We, The Consumers

We are what we consume. Or rather, we are what others perceive ourselves to be, according to what we consume. One who consumes items positively dripping with snob appeal would invariably have some rubbed off on that person. One can consume an absolutely delightful piece of what that individual deems as fine art, yet receive no recognition whatsoever, for that judgement was limited to the consumer. Likewise, comics have so long been locked in as the new media of the younglings and uncultured that the mere consumption of such material invites only disdain from those who think they understand high culture. It was so inextricable, in fact, that "graphic novels" were used as a term in lieu of "comics" when it came to serious worded illustrations.
While it may be unfair to lump "serious" comics together with funny comics due to the fact that the word "comic" implies humor, it is of significance that a whole new term has to be created in order to segregate oneself from the apparently low cultural value of "comics". As such, the extent to which one consumes cultural works of high cultural value will be the extent to which one is perceived to be cultured and, occasionally, erudite. We are what we consume, and that is but one means by which authoritarian figures can manipulate the masses. Everything has a basis, and authority is often the basis by which judgements are made.

"I may have drawn an ax being raised in this example, but I'm not the one who let it drop or decided how hard the blow, or who screamed, or why. That, dear reader, was your special crime, each of you committing it in your own style. All of you have participated in the murder. All of you held the ax and chose your spot. To kill a man between panels is to condemn him to a thousand deaths." Scott McCloud