Comics and Pedagogy (and Rock Music)--A Chris Boge Guest Post

Dear All,

I've just had an article published in a journal edited by the Austrian government that may be of interest to you for several reasons. Although the journal's title translates as Media Impulse: Contributions to Media Pedagogy, in my article on 'Visualizing Histories and Stories' I touch on topics located in the field of law and the humanities that cannot be understood without contextualisation (e.g. vigilantism, justice, fascism, crime). Moreover, those of us working with students may benefit from a pedagogical perspective on and close reading of (excerpts from) classic graphic novels like Watchmen and Maus -  at least if we intend to take the first part of the compound Graphic Justice as seriously as the second. There are reasons why (reading and teaching) graphic fiction differs from (reading and teaching) other cultural products, such as e.g. novels and films, and in my article I'm trying to briefly highlight what makes (reading and teaching) graphic novels (a) unique (experience) (e.g. simultaneity) as well as what are the features graphic novels share in common with other forms of storytelling (e.g. plot structures). Having said all that, it's an article, not a book - there was a word limit which I exceeded :-) Here's the link to theonline version.

Secondly, I've written and released a rock song that is as much the result of international cooperation as of interdisciplinary thinking. As I'm sure you will notice, the lyrics of the song were inspired by the papers I gave at Birkbeck and St Mary's. "Superheroes" was recorded, mixed and mastered in Cologne, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, GA. It seems to me that many people think that academics are boring people who, somewhat belatedly, set out to analyze cultural products created by artists. I believe that is a misconception, and in a way "Superheroes" proves that the thesis can be turned on its head: In this case, a cultural product came into existence after someone had done research on a topic in a specialized academic field (law and culture). Below you'll find links to CD Baby and iTunes, "Superheroes" should also be on amazon, spotify etc. by now. If you like what you hear, drop me a line and I'll send you the song for free. 

All best, Chris.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/voiceintheattic6

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/superheroes-single/id725741187

Comica Fesital / Transitions Symposium 2013

Those of you interested in comics studies generally may find this free one-day event at Birkbeck very exciting. It's the fourth 'Transisions' comics symposium, which promotes new research and multi-disciplinary academic study of comics/comix/manga/bande dessinée and other forms of sequential art. Book your place and come along on 26 October and be inspired and challenged!

Poster
Schedule

And here's some more details for y'all: 

Keynote: Dr. Ann Miller (University of Leicester, joint editor of European Comic Art)
Respondent: Dr. Roger Sabin (Central St. Martins, University of the Arts London)
Booking: Attendance is free but registration is essential. To book a place email the Transitions team at transitions.symposium@gmail.com.
Transitions is part of Comica, the London International Comics Festival
Event description: "Transitions is currently the only regular academic comics event based in London. The symposium provides a platform where different perspectives and methodologies can be brought together and shared. As an event devoted to promoting new research into comics in all their forms the symposium provides a forum for research from postgraduate students and early career lecturers. Comics studies occupy a unique multi-disciplinary middle-space, one that encourages cross-disciplinary pollination and a convergence of distinct knowledges: literary and cultural studies, visual arts and media, modern languages, sociology, geography and more. By thinking about comics across different disciplines, we hope to stimulate and provoke debate, to address a wide spectrum of questions, to map new trends, and to provide a space for dialogue and further collaboration to emerge."

Race and Gender in Comics: Ian Rakoff Lunchtime Lecture at the V&A

Ian Rakoff, one of the participants in next week's one-day symposium, is doing an extended version of his talk as part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's Lunchtime Lectures.

He will be discussing representations of race and gender in comics. Feel free to pop along!

The talk will take place on 2 October, from 1300-1345.

Details can be found here, and also here.

In Interview with Paul Gravett

Renowned comics writer Paul Gravett has been very supportive of the Graphic Justice project. Those keener-eyed amongst you may have noticed that he is chairing one of the panels at the one-day symposium on 11th September. He has also interviewed me, and if you follow the link below you can read the interview on his website.

Read the interview here.

Symposium Fully Booked! (+ paper abstracts)

The Graphic Justice One-day Symposium, taking place on 11 September 2013, is now FULLY BOOKED! I have had an excellent level of interest, and I'm very excited to see everyone on the day.

In advance of the event, I have compiled a nice handy collection of the abstracts for all the papers being presented. So, you can get a flavour of the various panels and papers from the comfort of your own home/office well in advance of the Symposium.

The document can be found here.

Although there will be programmes in hard-copy on the day, this more detailed collection will not be available. So, you may want to print your own copy to bring with you if you don't have any portable means of accessing it electronically.