2011-2012 Obermann-International Programs Humanities Symposium

October 5-8, 2011

In fall 2011, leading comic artist-authors and scholars met in Iowa City for "Comics, Creativity, and Culture: International and Interdisciplinary Perspectives." This three-day symposium fostered dynamic exchanges between notable creators and publishers of comics and scholars engaged in the cultural analysis of comics. It was also a unique opportunity for students, faculty, and the community to join in a discussion of the ever growing area of comics, broadly defined to include comic strips, comic books, and graphic novels. View the symposium schedule

In addition to the symposium, a wide variety of hands-on activities, exhibitions, discussions, and other events were held around the topic of comics. View the schedule of all comics-related events

Keynote lectures -

Phoebe Gloeckner, Wednesday October 5, 2011, 5 p.m., IMU Main Lounge

Joe Sacco, Friday October 7, 2011, 7:30 p.m., Shambaugh Auditorium

Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Saturday October 8, 2011, 7:30 p.m., Shambaugh Auditorium

Special presentation -

Craig Yoe, Thursday, October 6, 2011, 2:30 p.m. at UI Center for the Book, North Hall

Visiting scholars: Jeet Heer (Toronto), Craig Fischer (Appalachian State University), Charles Hatfield (California State University, Northridge), Frenchy Lunning (Minneapolis College of Art and Design), John Lent (Temple University), Jose Alaniz (University of Washington), and Bart Beaty (University of Calgary).

See biographies for all visiting Authors-Artists-Educators, Editors-Publishers, and Scholars

Co-directors: Corey Creekmur (Cinema & Comparative Literature); Ana Merino (Spanish & Portuguese); Rachel Williams (Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies)

These events are sponsored by The Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Annual Humanities Symposium, an International Programs Major Projects Award, the Arts and Humanities Initiative Conference Grant (Office of the VP for Research), the Ida Beam Visiting Professorship Program, the UI Lecture Committee and the UI Museum of Art, with additional support provided by the UI Center for the Book, the Iowa Youth Writing Project, Prairie Lights Bookstore, UI Libraries, the Center for Teaching, Daydream Comics, Project on Rhetoric of Inquiry at the University of Iowa, and the Department of Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Jeff Lemire "Tales From the Farm" UIMA School Programs Collection See more images from the UIMA collection

News

Comics and Culture: UI scholars take a new look at 'sequential art' - September issue of Spectator

WorldCanvass kicks off third season with 'Comics, Creativity and Culture' Sept. 23 - Sept. 14, 2011 - University News Services

Studying superheroes: UI to host 'Comics, Creativity and Culture' events throughout fall - Sept. 16, 2011 - University News Services

Comics exhibit opens in the IMU - Sept. 22, 2011 - The Daily Iowan

Illustrating a desire to create - Oct. 11, 2011 - fyi: News for Faculty and Staff