Spanish comic creator Quan Zhou Wu will deliver the talk “About Race in Spain through Comics” at 11.00am tomorrow at Durham University.
The talk will be followed by a roundtable discussion on “Creative Practice Against Racism” moderated by Professor Rosi Song at 2.00pm, and will feature contributions from Quan Zhou Wu and Jorge Catala-Carrasco, Reader in Hispanic Studies at Newcastle University, an expert in Hispanic comics and graphic humour.
Online booking options are no longer available: for ticket availability, contact the School of Modern Languages and Cultures by email via mlac.schoolsupportATdurham.ac.uk (replace “AT” with @) or via telephone, University Switchboard 0191 334 2000.
Quan Zhou Wu (Algeciras, 1989) is a multifaceted, self-taught artist, author, communicator, podcaster, graphic novelist, and specialist in social issues communication. She studied in Madrid and earned a degree in Graphic Communication in the UK. Her work is considered groundbreaking in its humorous yet incisive exploration of pressing social issues. Her unique style blends popular culture references, youth vernacular, and themes such as immigration, racism, minority identities, precarity, cultural clashes between Chinese and Spanish traditions, and national stereotypes.
Her career in graphic novels began in 2015 with the publication of Gazpacho agridulce: Una autobiografía chino-andaluza, released by Astiberri. With this book, she became a pioneer in depicting the lives of children of immigrants in Spain. She continued her narrative journey with the sequel Andaluchinas por el mundo in 2017.
In 2018, she collaborated with Nuria Labari on El gran libro de los niños extraordinarios, published by Silonia. Zhou ventured into graphic essays with Gente de aquí y gente de allí in 2020, and in 2023 she returned to Astiberri with La Agridolce Vita.
Her collaborations include contributions to eldiario.es, Vogue, and a research project with the Diversity Unit of the Madrid Police focused on the Chinese community in Madrid. She also hosts the podcast Movidas Varias, distributed by eldiario.es, where all topics are welcome – provided they feature voices from minority backgrounds. During the 2023-24 academic year, she held the King Juan Carlos I Chair in Spanish Culture and Civilization at NYU.
Reader in Hispanic Studies Dr. Jorge Catala-Carrasco, who hails from Valencia, in Spain, joined Newcastle University in 2010 after completing his PhD at The University of Nottingham. He also holds an MA in Hispanic Studies by the University of Georgia (USA). Jorge was Head of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies during 2021-2024 . He is also external examiner for Spanish Studies at the University of Stirling and for Spanish and Latin American Studies at Queen Mary University.
• Quan Zhou Wu – “About Race in Spain through Comics” 11.00am, Friday 6th June 205, Tom Percival Annexe, Parson’s Field, St Cuthbert’s Society, Durham University | Followed by Round Table at 2.00pm
Online booking options are no longer available: for ticket availability, contact the School of Modern Languages and Cultures by email via mlac.schoolsupportATdurham.ac.uk (replace “AT” with @) or via telephone, University Switchboard 0191 334 2000.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Comics, Comics Education News, Comics Studies, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds
Lakes International Comic Art Festival and partners continue work to promote comics as a valuable literacy tool