Call for Papers

The Comics of R. Crumb: Underground in the Art Museum

The Comics of R. Crumb: Underground in the Art Museum is a proposed volume in the Critical Approaches to Comics Artists book series at the University Press of Mississippi. This volume will contain an array of critical essays on the comics of R. Crumb, one of the most influential and celebrated, yet controversial, comics artists, and one who has been the subject of relatively little academic study to date. Essays from many disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives are welcome, including critical approaches from comics studies, art history, critical race and ethnic studies, cultural studies, design studies, disability studies, film studies, gender and sexuality studies, literary studies, history, museum studies, music studies, and others.

Essays that address the following topics are especially welcome:

Crumb’s Significance and Canonization in Comics Studies

Crumb and Autobiographical/Confessional Comics

The Politics of Crumb’s Comics, Underground Comics, and the Counterculture

Racial and Racist Caricature in Crumb’s Comics

Gender, Sexuality, and Perversion in Crumb’s Comics

Periodical Studies and Print Culture approaches to Crumb’s work

Crumb’s Collaborative Work with Aline Kominsky Crumb, Harvey Pekar, and

            others

Crumb’s Editorial Work in Underground Comics

Museum and Gallery Exhibitions of Crumb’s Art and Illustrations

Crumb’s Commercial Illustrations and/as Comics Culture

Music Performance, Record Collecting, and Music History

Posters, Record Covers, Stickers, Tattoos, and Other Illustrated Objects

Film Adaptations of Crumb’s Comics

Representations of Crumb in Documentary Films

Crumb’s Influence on Contemporary Art, Comics, Design, and Literature

Please send a 250-500 word abstract, CV, and contact information to Daniel Worden at dxwind@rit.edu by January 15, 2018.

Accepted abstracts will be used in a formal book prospectus, and the deadline for full-length essays will be negotiated shortly thereafter.