Whether individual cartoons, comic strips, graphic novels, films, television programs or fine art, comics occupy a unique space in the realm of communication through visual art. They can speak across cultures and hold any imaginable message. They can exist as political commentary, create a universe of superheroes and villains, transmit a public heath message, re-tell great myths and historical events or simply entertain. Suffice it to say that comics speak a language all their own and our guests examine that language from varied vantage points.

UI faculty organizers of the 2011 Humanities Symposium “Comics, Creativity and Culture,” Rachel Williams of Women’s Studies, Ana Merino of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and Corey Creekmur of Cinema and Comparative Literature, explore the power, range and legitimacy of comics.

Panelists discuss such topics as: the origins and international presence of comics; the political, cultural and social impact of comics; graphic novels and graphic language in art; comics as the birthplace of superheroes and villains; teaching comics; and comics as a multi-layered genre represented not only in paper and book form but also on television and in film.

Additional WorldCanvass guests include Kathleen Edwards, Cynthia Laborde, Mark Isham, Nicholas Theisen, Nicholas Yanes and Matthew Brown.

Whether individual cartoons, comic strips, graphic novels, films, television programs or fine art, comics occupy a unique space in the realm of communication through visual art. They can speak across cultures and hold any imaginable message. They can exist as political commentary, create a universe of superheroes and villains, transmit a public heath message, re-tell great myths and historical events or simply entertain. Suffice it to say that comics speak a language all their own and our guests examine that language from varied vantage points.

UI faculty organizers of the 2011 Humanities Symposium “Comics, Creativity and Culture,” Rachel Williams of Women’s Studies, Ana Merino of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and Corey Creekmur of Cinema and Comparative Literature, explore the power, range and legitimacy of comics.

Panelists discuss such topics as: the origins and international presence of comics; the political, cultural and social impact of comics; graphic novels and graphic language in art; comics as the birthplace of superheroes and villains; teaching comics; and comics as a multi-layered genre represented not only in paper and book form but also on television and in film.

Additional WorldCanvass guests include Kathleen Edwards, Cynthia Laborde, Mark Isham, Nicholas Theisen, Nicholas Yanes and Matthew Brown.