The University of East Anglia, near Norwich, will launch a Master of Arts program in Comics Studies in September 2020 – the first in the world.
“Comics have never been more popular, and never more important,” an announcement reads. “Our MA degree in Comics Studies will enable you to discover the varied history, culture and industries that have made comics a pre-eminent and vibrant art form.
“Whether you are a fan of comic books, or interested in visual storytelling, then this MA is ideal for you. You will develop advanced knowledge of comics as an international art form, with ties to wider popular and avant-garde cultures and will learn to critically evaluate a broad range of comics styles and formats.”
The University of East Anglia (UEA) has been ranked 15th by The Times Good University Guide 2019 and The Complete University Guide 2019, as well as in the World Top 200 by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. It’s home, among other things to the archive of work created by award winning comedy writer, actor and best selling novelist, Charlie Higson.
UEA joins a number of other academic institutions across the UK offering comic-related course, including the University of Lancaster, the University of Dundee and many more.
Dr. Frederik Byrn Køhlert of the University of East Anglia
“We still have a lot of work to do on this,” says Dr. Frederik Byrn Køhlert, Lecturer in American Studies at the UEA’s School of Art, Media and American Studies, “but you can follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more details to come.”
Frederik’s own most recent research focuses on political comics and cartoons, and he is currently working on projects concerning the intersection of comics and anarchism and the international reception of Charlie Hebdo in the wake of the shootings at the newspaper’s editorial office. His book Serial Selves: Identity and Representation in Autobiographical Comics was published by Rutgers University Press in 2019.
He ecently guest edited a special issue of the journal SubStance (University of Wisconsin Press), examining the intersection of comics and anarchism, a contributing co-written introduction, and an article entitled “Comics, Form, and Anarchism,” which focuses on the overlap between formalist comics scholarship and anarchist theory.
• University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK. Web: www.uea.ac.uk
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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 Education News, Comics Studies, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
Related Articles
-
Lakes International Comic Art Festival and partners continue work to promote comics as a valuable literacy tool
-
Gareth Brookes to spotlight the challenges AI presents to comic creators at special seminar
-
New book, “Comics | Histories – Texts, Methods, Resources” includes a potted history of Marvel Comics
-
Alan Grant Memorial Scholarship Announced