Dundee University asks “Comics, So What?” in March

By Jeremy Briggs on February 16, 2015 • ( 1 )

On Saturday 7th March 2015 from 1pm onwards the University of Dundee is hosting an event celebrating comics and graphic novels entitled “Comics, So What?” It features workshops and talks by comics creators, and invites members of the public of all ages to come along to discuss their favourite comic. The event is co-organised by the Scottish Centre for Comics Studies and the Cartoon Museum, and marks the beginning of a new project by the Cartoon Museum, in conjunction with the University of Dundee and Staffordshire University.

This project seeks to engage the public in the appreciation of comics and graphic novels, and to draw attention to Comics Studies in the UK, and the role that the Cartoon Museum is taking in preserving the cultural heritage of British Comics. The project is funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will launch with three simultaneous events in Dundee, Staffordshire and London.

The Dundee event will also tie into the International Will Eisner Week, and celebrate Eisner’s profound influence on the medium of comics, and his importance for Comics Studies. It will also concentrate on commemorating the 20th anniversary of Eisner’s visit to Scotland. To celebrate this Dundee’s Dr Chris Murray and Glasgow’s John McShane have written a script very loosely based on this visit, and invite artistic responses to it through a competition.

There are more details of Comics So What? on the event’s Facebook page and on the Cartoon Museum website.

Jeremy Briggs

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