Loyola Marymount University‘s Dr. Adilifu Nama, Chair and Associate Professor of African American Studies and author of Super Black: American Pop Culture and Black Superheroes, will hold a conference tomorrow on race in comics.
Dr. Nama shares some of his findings in this video produced by LMU:
His take on Luke Cage as more than simply a blaxploitation character, which is typically how he’s dismissed, but a reflection of the debate about the criminal system and rehabilitation going on at the time, particularly stands out to me. This isn’t just another regurgitation of comics history but an indication of someone bringing their own knowledgeable perspective to the ongoing dialogue and analysis. I’m bummed I can’t make this conference, but I’m very interested in checking out his book as a consolation prize.
The colloquium ran from 9 AM to 4 PM and included a line-up of professors and professional creators in comics and animation, including animator/artist LeSean Thomas (The Boondocks, The Last Airbender: The Legend of Korra) and nationally syndicated cartoonist Lalo Alcarez (La Cucaracha).
From the schedule:
OUTSIDE THE LINES:
Reconfiguring Race in American Comics, Animation and Graphic NovelsA colloquium concerning issues of diversity, commerce, artistic control, stereotypes, discrimination, aesthetics and pressing debates over the role and responsibility of artists and the comic art and narratives they create.
His book focuses on superhero comics, but this conference looks to expand beyond that, which is important. Click through for the full schedule.
OUTSIDE THE LINES:
Reconfiguring Race in American Comics, Animation and Graphic Novels
A colloquium concerning issues of diversity, commerce, artistic control, stereotypes, discrimination, aesthetics and pressing debates over the role and responsibility of artists and the comic art and narratives they create.
Panel A: Questions of Racial Authenticity in Comics and Graphic Novels: 9:30-10:45am
Panel B: Racial & Gender Intersectionality in Comics and Graphic Novels: 11:00-12:15pm
Panel C: Radical Racial Discourse and Imagery in Comics and Graphic Novels: 12:15-1:30pm
Panel D: Film and Television Adaptations of Comics/Graphic Novels: 2-3:30pm
Participants:
LeSean Thomas, Character Designer & Co-Director of “The Boondocks”
Lalo Alcaraz, Creator of the nationally syndicated Latino daily strip, “La Cucaracha”
Eric Battle, freelance artist, DC and Marvel Comics
Nnedi Okorafor, award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist
Brandon M. Easton, screenwriter on Warner Bros. new ThunderCats TV series
Stanford Carpenter, Assistant Professor, Visual and Critical Studies-SAIC
Qiana Whitted, Associate Professor, African-American Studies-Univ. of South Carolina
John Jennings, Associate Professor, Visual Studies-SUNY Buffalo
Ahamanson Auditorium/University Hall 1000
Sponsored by African American Studies and the Office of Black Student Services
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OUTSIDE THE LINES: RECONFIGURING RACE IN AMERICAN COMICS, ANIMATION AND GRAPHIC NOVELS
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Morning Mixer: 9-9:30am
Welcome and Opening Remarks — Dr. Adilifu Nama
Panel A: 9:30-10:45am
Questions of Genre, Canon and Racial Authenticity in Comics and Graphic Novels
Speaker 1. Stanford Carpenter — Assistant Professor, ethnographic studies, Visual and Critical Studies.
Speaker 2. Eric Battle — Artist with both DC and Marvel Comics, creating pencils for Spider-Man, Batman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and other comics.
Speaker 3. Linh Hua — LMU Lecturer, Women’s Studies, Afrofuturism, Asian & African American Literature
Panel B: 11:00-12:15pm
Racial and Gender Intersectionality, Chicano/Asian-ness as Exotic Blackness in Comics
Speaker 1. Ashley Woods — Independent illustrator and writer of several popular Manga styled comics.
Speaker 2. Qiana Whitted — Associate Professor of English & African American Studies University of South Carolina
Speaker 3. Stella Oh — Associate Professor / Chair Women’s Studies, LMU
Speaker 4. Frances Gateward — Assistant Professor, Co-editor of the Journal of Japanese & Korean Cinema, CSUN
Panel C: 12:15-1:30pm
Radical Racial Discourse and Imagery in Comics, Animation and Graphic Novels
LeSean Thomas, Character Designer & Co-Director of “The Boondocks”
Lalo Alcaraz — Creator of the nationally syndicated Latino daily strip, “La Cucaracha”
Arie Monroe — Freelance illustrator
Juan Mah y Busch — Assoc. Prof / Interim Director of the Institute of Bio Ethics LMU
Panel D: 2-3:30pm
Film and Television Adaptations of Comics/Graphic Novels
Nnedi Okorafor, award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist
Brandon M. Easton, screenwriter on Warner Bros. new ThunderCats TV series
Stanford Carpenter, Assistant Professor, Visual andCritical Studies-SAIC
Panel Moderator: John Jennings — Associate Professor of Visual Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Panel Moderator: Adilifu Nama — Chair and Associate Professor African American Studies Department
Closing mixer at the end of the conference in the atrium outside the auditorium
Ahmanson Auditorium/University Hall 1000/LMU/1 LMU Drive, Los Angels, CA 90045
