cfp.english.upenn.edu

Deadline for abstracts extended until March 20th, 2009.

Abstracts are invited on British graphic novels and comics.

According to the New York Times, Britain finally “embrace(d) the graphic novel” in 2007, supposedly many years behind the rest of the reading world. The British graphic novel industry is perceived to be dwarfed by its American and continental counterparts, despite the success of Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, publishing houses like Jonathan Cape and the patronage of Posy Simmonds by The Guardian. In what ways is it appropriate to talk about a distinctly British tradition of sequential art?

Possible questions and topics:
• What is the role of graphic novels in negotiating/producing postimperial and postcolonial identities and anxieties?
• Graphic novels and regionality (Bryan Talbot’s Alice in Sunderland, Viz).
• Graphic novels and the city (Alan Moore, Judge Dredd).
• The origins of the British graphic novel (18th century; Victorian visual culture).
• Feminist and post-feminist graphic novels (Tank Girl; Posy Simmonds).
• Graphic novels and empire.
• English literature adapted to graphic novel format (manga Shakespeare).
• Girls and boys comics (June; Beano).
• Papers on individual graphic novelists also considered.

Please send 1-page abstract and brief bio by March 20th, 2009 to: Elizabeth Ho at eho_at_ursinus.edu.