CFP: Disability and Graphic Narrative (3/15/07; MLA
12/07)

Do you like comic books and graphic novels? Are you
interested in disability and illness? Do you like
reading about disabled or ill characters in comics and
graphic narratives? Then this is the academic panel
for YOU! The Disability Studies Division of the MLA
seeks panelists for the 2007 meeting in Chicago. How
does the medium of the graphic narrative open new
vistas onto the world of literary and cultural
representations of disability, chronic/terminal or
mental illness? Explore notions and instances of
mutantcy, supercripping, passing, overcoming, or
accepting/rejecting one's "bodily destiny". Kelley
Puckett and Warren Pleece's Kinetic (chronic illness
in adolescence), Tom Batiuk's Lisa's Story (breast
cancer detection, treatment and recovery), Gary
Trudeau's The Long Road Home (traumatic amputation
during the Iraq war, evacuation and rehabilitation),
Greg Fox's Kyle's Bed and Breakfast (traumatic
paralysis), Allison Bechdel's Dykes to Watch Out For
(multiple sclerosis) and Peter Milligan's Skin
(thalidomide) are only a few texts among many which
you might address. Analyses of superheroes in
mainstream comics (Daredevil, Birds of Prey, Strong
Guy, Iron Man, X-Men), independent 'zines, online-only
comic strips or panels are also welcome.
Brief (one page) abstracts should be e-mailed as Word
(.doc) attachments or included in the body of the
e-mail itself, by March 15, 2007, to Ann Keefer:
vatergrrl_at_yahoo.com. Please mention in your abstract
if you will need any audiovisual equipment for your
presentation. Selected papers will be delivered orally
at the MLA and should run no longer than 15 minutes.

Ann Keefer
vatergrrl_at_yahoo.com

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Received on Sun Feb 11 2007 - 15:24:05 EST