Week 31: Art Spiegelman and Maus

Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place.

The Pulitzer Prize is one of the most prestigious awards that a journalist or writer can receive. On this week in 1982, the Pulitzer Prize committee made an historic decision—to recognize a comic book as a literary work. Art Spiegelman received a Pulitzer Prize for his comic book series Maus: A Survivor’s Tale.

Part of what makes Maus such an extraordinary work of literature is the manner in which it reveals the power of comics to convey the essence of a story in its own original way—in this case, the horrors and complexities of the Nazi Holocaust. The critical acclaim of Maus helped to shatter preconceived notions about comics, and paved the way for an entire generation of graphic novel artists and their followers, like many of you.

Remember, you don’t have to travel as far as the offices of the Pulitzer Prize to find diversity. There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school. Find one today!