Cathy shares all about her first year teaching in the Visual Narrative MFA program at Boston University! She talks about her new higher ed teaching experiences, how the program is structured, and personal observations of teaching K-12 vs. higher ed. A good listen for current MFA students or people considering it!
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On this exciting episode of Drawing a Dissertation, remus introduces our new series where we interview trans cartoonists from the DIY scene! remus shares their PhD dissertation work, their approach to research, and drops the news of our exciting new DaD Presents project. We hope you join us!
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Using Calmer Con in Massachusetts as a case study, Cathy and remus discuss accessibility at comic conventions. Cathy shares details about the event and the superhero costume workshops she taught. What is the difference between providing accommodations for disabled people, versus building something accessible from the start?
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On this episode, remus tells us all about open access archives! What are they, why do they exist, and how can we use them? Also, Cathy and remus recap the Small Press Expo (SPX) 2023 and talk about their experiences with indie comic book conventions in a “post” pandemic world.
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In celebration of our 50th episode and our 6th anniversary, let’s go to the movies! remus and Cathy discuss movies about cartoonists; not comic book movies, but movies where cartoonists themselves are the protagonist. Funny Pages, Chasing Amy, Monkeybone, and more!
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Inspired by a recent situation, Cathy and remus talk about what it’s like being an award judge behind the scenes, the differences between censorship and criticism, and challenge future judges to reconsider what’s important.
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In this episode, Cathy and remus discuss the on-going teacher shortage in the United States. We discuss various theories on why teachers to leave the profession, such as burnout, student behavior, and moral disagreement. What is the shortage, where is it happening, and why?
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In this episode, Cathy shares her newly published book chapter, Comic Art Ed! Making Comics is for Everyone! She discusses the art education approach to K-12 comic book lesson development through five different pedagogical values: teamwork, ideation, literacy, self-actualization, and fun. Cartooning combines drawing and writing into its own unique learning and creating form. This chapter synthesizes the past decade of Cathy’s work helping develop the pedagogical field of making comics in the art classroom!
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What is the PhD process like? In this episode, remus updates us on their PhD progress, specifically sharing how the qualifying exam goes and how dissertations are written. Cathy shares why she stopped at a master’s degree. Why get a PHD? What is it for? Let’s talk about it!
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How can a drawing be transgender? Cathy and remus are joined by special guest Fi Stewart-Taylor to talk about the representation of transgender people in comics. Fi talks about what representation and inclusion is, including research into early webcomic trans representation before “the transgender tipping point.”
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In this episode, remus discusses the way queer AIDS activists used art and comics as part of their activism during the the 1980s-1990s. They specifically talk about four art projects: the AIDS memorial quilt, work by activist group Gran Fury, the comics anthologies “Strip AIDS” and “Strip AIDS USA,” and David Wojnaworicz's “7 Miles A Second.”
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The common definition of BL, the acronym for Boys Love, is “a genre consisting of male-male romantic fictions created by women and for women in Japan, previously known as yaoi.” But is it only women? Cathy and remus discuss the history, contemporary status, and transformative power of BL manga for queer representation, using the awesome expert panel hosted by The Japan Foundation NY as citation: “Boys' Love: The History and Transformation of BL in Asia.” Join us!
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A chatty episode, remus and Cathy have a conversation catching up about life! remus shares where they are in regards to academia, new jobs and healing, and Cathy talks about finding balance. Also, are they making comics right now or what?!
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In this episode, Cathy shares her graphic novels of the year! Cathy served as a judge for the LA Times Book Prize in the Graphic Novel/Comics category, and will be talking about the nominees and winner, as well as a few other favorites that didn’t make the list. Let’s talk about some good comics!
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In this episode, remus shares how to do your own research! Learn best research practices, what’s up with academic publishing, and where to get your information… for free heheh.
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Special guest Ross Hernandez join Cathy and remus to talk about how capitalism shapes the creation of comic books. We learn about different forms of labor, art’s relationship to capitalism, and how the comic book industry mashes these worlds together. Where are we right now, and what are our next steps forward? Capitalism is dying, and we should let it die.
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In this episode, remus and Cathy introduce and discuss queer theory. remus shares the history of queer theory and how it can be used as a framework for thinking about comics and beyond!
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Spurred by the recent media attention for the ban of her graphic novel The Breakaways, Cathy leads a discussion with remus on the value of sports in K-12 schools, House Bill 25 in Texas, and the rights of transgender student athletes.
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In this episode, remus and Cathy discuss how ableism manifests in comics culture and shapes all our lives. Definitions of accessibility versus accommodations are shared, as well as discussion about disability justice in comics and schools.
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In this episode, Cathy and remus use the work of scholar Tema Okun to look at how white supremacy culture has imbedded itself in our everyday lives, and share how together we can antidote and circumvent its characteristics with anti-racism work.
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