Part 5: The March of John Lewis: Why Equality Matters - The L.A.W. GraphicNarrativ Seminar Series

 

During the 5th lecture of the series we looked at the following sources of inspiration and storytelling devices:

Academic and Curators of the format who you can check out in the UAL Libraries or online

Andrew Aydin

Mat Johnson

Decolonising the Arts Curriculum: Perspectives in Higher Education

Graphic Novels Creatives

Kyle Baker

Warren Pleece

Nate Powell

Publishers of Graphic Novels 

Abrams books

Top Shelf Productions

Vertigo

The lecture slides are shown below that covered the main points of the works under discussion;

Graphic Novels can bring ideas to people that they might not engage with otherwise. The two books, 'March' and 'Nat Turner' show the lives of citizens who are not part of the mainstream in the US. The events covered happened more than 100 years apart - however just how much has really changed? What is happening in the head of the oppressor? Why did they make these choices in the first place? Can they even change?

In March the illustration by Nate Powell are realistic and do evoke the time period covered (there is much source material provided and a lot of it is preserved as US history. We are shown people as they are and that is scary at times. Working in black and white gives a documentary feel to the work.

In Nat Turner the illustrations by Kyle Baker are loose and expressionistic (almost sketches) but they do present us with a far-off age. He doesn't shy away from graphic violence and degradation. Working in black and white the book impresses as a diary of a tale of horror and woe. 

It was a good lecture with only one conclusion, we need to find the best way to be equal as people and to make the most of all of the talent that is out there. If humanity is to prevail, we cannot leave anyone behind. We only win when we all win. Think about the unsung issues that affect people that might be aided by the creation of a graphic narrative to explore and promote the new ideas. We are now in an era where what has been outside of the mainstream can be embraced by a majority of readers. Our work should be useful and change how the world sees things.

ADDITIONAL LEARNING MATERIALS FOR THIS SUBJECT

If you would like to know more about this subject then you can watch a video presentation of my Challenging Times lecture here (duration: 35 mins 50 seconds). Please note only those registered at The University of the Arts, London can watch this video presentation at this time.

References

Baker, K. (2008) Nat Turner. New York, NY: Abrams.

Johnson, M., Pleece, W. and Robins, C. (2018) Incognegro. First Hardcover Edition edn. Milwaukie, OR: Berger Books, an imprint of Dark Horse Comics.

Lewis, J., Aydin, A. and Powell, N. (2016) March. Marietta, GA: Top Shelf Productions.

Meacham, J. and Lewis, J. (2020) His truth is marching on. First edition edn. New York: Random House.

Turner, N. and Editions, M. (2021) The Confessions of Nat Turner. Berkeley: West Margin Press.

Proposition Time Part 5

RIGHTS OF PASSAGE ZINE

Choose and issue that you feel is unsung and generate an eight page zine about it. This publication is intended to act as an incubator project for something bigger and bolder later on.

Select and A3 sheet and fold as shown in this Video (they are using a sheet that is closer to A4 in size but the principle with work with A3 too). Your drawings and ideas will of course be superior to those in the example Zine. Bring the Zine to the next lecture on Thursday 21 March 2022.

Here is a list of a few issues that affect people to help you to get started with this task.

Access to Water

Establishing Adulthood

Forms of Aggression

Gender Assignment

Oil and Gas security

Passing for another race

Period Poverty

Space Pollution