Drawing the South, a panel hosted by the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South (#IAS_NUQ), explored the rise of comics as a form of popular art in the Global South and the ways they have both reflected and influenced social, political, and cultural discussions across formerly colonized locales.
In a panel discussion moderated by James Hodapp, assistant professor in residence at Northwestern Qatar, comic artists and academics examined how the legibility of comics as a literary medium and their localized conditions of production have contributed to their global circulation from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
In the opening presentation, Deena Mohamed, comic artist, writer, and author of Shubeik Lubeik, examined the evolution of satirical and sincere comics in Egypt in the 20th century, commenting on how they have come to reflect life in Cairo and address issues in Egyptian society and politics. Drawing on examples from popular comic books published after the 1920s, Mohamed explained how the aesthetics of Egyptian comics and their attention to the politics of place and social stratification are what make them “truly Egyptian.”
In a panel discussion moderated by James Hodapp, assistant professor in residence at Northwestern Qatar, comic artists and academics examined how the legibility of comics as a literary medium and their localized conditions of production have contributed to their global circulation from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
In the opening presentation, Deena Mohamed, comic artist, writer, and author of Shubeik Lubeik, examined the evolution of satirical and sincere comics in Egypt in the 20th century, commenting on how they have come to reflect life in Cairo and address issues in Egyptian society and politics. Drawing on examples from popular comic books published after the 1920s, Mohamed explained how the aesthetics of Egyptian comics and their attention to the politics of place and social stratification are what make them “truly Egyptian.”
Building on the relationship between comics and society in the Arab world, Rasha Chatta, associate researcher of the Einstein Foundation at the Freie Universität Berlin, examined how Arab feminist comics and graphic novels have shaped discussions about women's rights in the Global South. In her talk, Chatta explained how Arab feminists and feminist organizations use comics and graphic novels as a transnational medium to promote their struggles globally.
The panel also featured South African writer, translator, and political illustrator André Trantraal, who reflected on his upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa, discussing how inequality and racism have shaped his artistic work in children’s books, comic books, newspaper cartoons, and poetry.
Touching upon similar themes, Jasmin Wrobel, postdoctoral fellow at The University of Manchester, examined how feminist graphic narratives from Brazil and Latin America, as well as Black American resistance comics, have been used as visual archives to fill gaps in the historiography of the Global South.
Drawing the South is one of several programs hosted by the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South. For more information on #IAS_NUQ’s upcoming events, click here.
The panel also featured South African writer, translator, and political illustrator André Trantraal, who reflected on his upbringing in apartheid-era South Africa, discussing how inequality and racism have shaped his artistic work in children’s books, comic books, newspaper cartoons, and poetry.
Touching upon similar themes, Jasmin Wrobel, postdoctoral fellow at The University of Manchester, examined how feminist graphic narratives from Brazil and Latin America, as well as Black American resistance comics, have been used as visual archives to fill gaps in the historiography of the Global South.
Drawing the South is one of several programs hosted by the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South. For more information on #IAS_NUQ’s upcoming events, click here.
