ZAMI | Queer Comics and Activism
Join us for a talk about the history of queer comics from the late 1950s to the present day and create your very own comic strip!
Talk + Workshop: Queer Comics and Activism with Helis Sikk
Although comics have always been a little queer (Batman and Robin anyone?), not all superheroes wear capes. Often mistakenly dismissed as not serious and too simplistic, queer comics from artists such as Tom of Finland to Bishakh Som continue to function as acts of activism, especially during times of political conservatism. In fact, one of the most banned books in the United States is currently Gender Queer, a graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe. This talk will cover the history of queer comics from the late 1950s to the present day and discuss the importance of the medium to queer culture. You will also have an opportunity to create your very own comic strip by the end of the talk.
Helis Sikk is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Gender Studies at Brown University. She earned her Ph.D. at The College of William & Mary in American Studies. Her research takes a feral multidisciplinary approach in exploring the relationships between queerness, affect, and visual culture.
Free and Open To All
Recommended Books
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Apsara Engine by Bishakh Som
The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel
No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics by Justin Hall
Tom of Finland: The Complete Kake Comics by Dian Hanson
