Themes of Filipino Komiks Short Stories: a Content Analysis Themes of Filipino Komiks Short Stories: a Content Analysis Themes of Filipino Komiks Short Stories: a Content Analysis

THEMES OF FILIPINO KOMIKS SHORT STORIES:
A CONTENT ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT

This study is a content analysis of the various themes, sub-themes and the types of endings contained in the short stories in Filipino comic books, thereafter referred to in its vernacular form, "komiks."
The study sampled 30 komiks from two of the top komiks publishers in the Philippines.   There were 10 samples of EXTRA (Special) komiks by the Atlas Publishing Company, thereafter referred to as "Atlas Publishing," and 20 samples of United (Super Stories) komiks by Graphic Arts and Services, Inc., thereafter referred to as "GASI."   The dates of the komiks analyzed covered the period May to September 1992.
Using frequency counts, it was determined that there were 18 major themes in the study, the most recurring of which were romance, human nature and marital relationship.   These major themes have variations—type of romance, type of married life, emotions or characteristics intrinsic to a human being—which were categorized as sub-themes.
The sub-themes under romance were: courtship, illicit relationship, office romance, romantic rivalry and unrequited love.
The sub-themes under marital relationship were: harmony or bliss, discord, petty problems and infidelity.
There were 20 sub-themes under human nature that were negative and positive characteristics of human beings.
Endings were classified as happy, tragic, didactic or suspended.
Results showed that whatever the types of themes or ending are used, komiks content still leave a lot to be desired.   Stories were full of fatalistic and escapist attitudes.   Problems tackled were mostly individualistic and were not given any feasible or practical solutions.

I. Introduction
Today, the Filipino komiks is regarded as the country's "top entertainment source" since it enjoys the highest readership level than all other printed materials combined.
The reasons for the komiks' popularity are numerous: They are cheap, portable, accessible,... [continues]

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