CFP: [Children] MLA 2009, British graphic novels and comics

full name / name of organization: 
Elizabeth Ho

CFP: MLA, Philadelphia 2009: British graphic novels and comics.

Proposals 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 (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 6th, 2009 to: Elizabeth Ho at
eho_at_ursinus.edu.

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Received on Tue Feb 10 2009 - 09:26:47 EST