In an age of globalisation, popular culture has been increasingly analysed through
transnational perspectives to reveal how local, national, international, and global
dynamics influence and shape the form and content of a given cultural artefact,
and impact its production, consumption, and regulation. Comics can cross national
and cultural boundaries in a variety of contexts: from its hand drawn form that
blends diverse cultural influences and styles and its collaborative creative process,
to the translation and circulation of comics across countries (amongst other
aspects). In this regard, the study of comics provides a rich subject of focus
in which to effectively engage with issues of transnational exchange.
The Comics Collections available in the Archives and Special Collections Centre
at the UAL is a useful example of transnational exchange, and serves as a small
window into the transatlantic flow of creative influence shared between national
comics traditions in the latter half of the twentieth century. Current research being
undertaken in the archives focuses upon the transcultural repurposing of the
American Western in British comics, raising larger questions around the cultural
migration of American popular culture. In addition, a recent exhibition of the
archives’ collection of mini-comics shed light upon the shared interest and
influence between French and US underground cartooning (among other things.
A survey of these Comic Collections reflects further cultural crossovers at work:
from the array of comics in DC’s Vertigo imprint, which symbolise the impact
of British creative talent upon the American mainstream, to the visible influence
of the American underground upon the work of European artists like Aleksander
Zograf. While this brief overview illuminates instances of interconnectedness
between American and other national comics productions, such examples
of transatlantic crossover are also a useful launch pad into a much wider
discussion around transnational comics.
In association with the UAL Archives and Special Collections Centre
and the Comics Research Hub (CoRH), this symposium invites proposals
which consider transnational perspectives on comics in the broadest sense.
Topics for discussion may include (but are not limited to):
* Transnational comics fandom.
* Genre in transnational contexts.
* Archival research on
transnational comics.
* Questions of transnationalism
and comics form.
* The transnational production /
reception of comics.
* Comics that deal with issues
of transnationalism and
border crossings.
* Comics creators whose work
extends across different cultures
and countries.
* Discussions of transnationalism
beyond American comics, manga,
and bande dessinée.
The event will take place at London College of Communication (UAL)
on Wed 06 March 2019. Proposals will be considered in the following formats:
1. Individual 20 minute paper.
2. A 60 minute workshop which engages with the theme.
Please send abstract proposals of up to 250 words in length, and a short
(100 word) biography to Dr William Grady at: archive-enquiries@arts.ac.uk.
The deadline for submissions is 30 November and you will be notified
of acceptance by or before 14 December.
http://comicsresearch.arts.ac.uk
Author: Dr. William Grady