By Andy Setiawan, PhD Design student at Lancaster University

Graphic Fiction and Comic Art at Lancaster University

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Exploring the transformative potential of images, comics, graphic novels and illustration

Across Lancaster University academics in many different disciplines share an interest in images, comics, graphic novels and illustration and their transformative potential. Academics from Languages and Creative Writing to Physics, Educational Research to Design, Health and Medicine to Sociology, are researching, teaching and working with researchers, authors and artists worldwide. Together they are seeking to explore and share the wider application of this medium, and to use their interest and expertise in graphic fiction and comic art to benefit initiatives such as education and community projects.

Credit for banner image: Andy Setiawan, PhD Design student at Lancaster University

We are proud to be associated with the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival

An annual comic art spectacular in Kendal, Cumbria: 11-13th October 2019

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Sponsor of the UK Comics Laureate

"Comics are the perfect gateway drug to literacy ... I gained my love of language as a child though reading comics, and I look forward to inviting new audiences to discover comics for themselves." - Hannah Berry, UK Comics Laureate

The Comics Laureate champions the role of comics in improving literacy in schools, libraries and education. Hannah Berry, who takes over the role from Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, is an award-winning graphic novelist, comics creator, writer and illustrator.

UK Comics Laureate

Hannah Berry. Photo credit: Claire McName

Comics Research Network

Joe Decie Graphic Memoir Booklet

ReOPeN is Lancaster University's research, outreach and pedagogy umbrella network for all the graphics-related work at the university, with the aim to connect academics, authors and artists across departments, disciplines and beyond, around the world. Together they research, write and engage with initiatives such as education, health, fiction, memoirs and community projects through the medium of comics, graphic novels and illustration.

Project example: Graphic Health Inequalities

Artist Joe Decie worked with two researchers at Lancaster University, Dr Emma Halliday and Dr Natasa Lackovic, to create a collective Graphic Memoir Booklet about communities’ experiences and action, related to health inequalities in England.

Emma works in the School of Health and Medicine on the Communities in Control project, while Dr Natasa Lackovic is in the Department of Educational Research.

ReOPeN

Comics Research Network — Image by Sarah Firth

Professor of Graphic Fiction and Comic Art

Tintin expert Professor Benoît Peeters took up this ground-breaking post in 2016. Known world-wide as a novelist, graphic novelist, intellectual biographer, cultural historian and screen-writer, he has delivered numerous lectures and seminars (many open to the public), and some fascinating workshops with students. Benoît collaborates on the research project Graphic Futures and is a key member of the Graphic Novels and Comics, Research, Outreach and Pedagogy Network.

Benoît Peeters

Graphic Futures

Using techniques from graphic fiction, startling news flashes from the future inspire fascinating debates about what is probable, possible and preferable for the future.

Graphic futures was a project in collaborative authorship based at the Institute for Social Futures 2017-18.

Graphic Futures

Lancaster Arts at Lancaster University

Lancaster Arts is the University's award-winning arts provider. It supports cultural and artistic engagement at the highest level through a programme of internationally renowned contemporary theatre, dance, visual art and classical music. As well as inviting the public to our distinctive campus-based performance spaces we are proud to work with arts partners across Lancashire, Cumbria and beyond.

Lancaster Arts