Dragon*Con Academic
Mini-Conference
2008 Program
Presenting Scholarly Studies of Comics and the Popular Arts
Dragon*Con's first academic conference!
in collaboration with the Institute for Comics Studies
http://www.instituteforcomicsstudies.org/
August 29-31
Atlanta, Georgia
http://www.dragoncon.org
Panel Descriptions
Friday, August 29th, 5:30pm
On the program as "Comics and Philosophy"
D*C Academic Mini-Conference Session 1: Philosophical and Religious Themes in Comics. At this panel, scholars from philosophy and religious studies discuss themes in comics. Damien Williams (Georgia State University) discusses the nature of title character's ethical egoism in Mike Carey's Lucifer. J. J. Sylvia (University of Southern Mississippi) argues that, although their are limitations, one can successfully teach classes in philosophy using comics about philosophy, such as Van Lente and Dunlavey's Action Philosophers! Hannah Dame (University of Alabama) analyzes Grant Morrison's use of Buddhist teachings in his works, especially The Invisibles.
Sunday, August 31st, 10:00am
On the program as "Comics Across Cultures"
D*C Academic Mini-Conference Session 2: Comics, Culture, and Criticism. In this session, three scholars provide critical discussions of comics and the comics medium. Sabrina Starnaman (University of California-San Diego) uses the theories of Althusser to examine how truth is constructed and power reified in Jonathan Hickman's The Nightly News. Brian Curtis (Nashville State Community College) argues that superheroes present a new, post-modern, cyborg identity. Stuart Lenig (Columbia State) discusses how the boom of films based on comic book heroes may reflect millennial ennui in the face of overwhelming socio-political problems.
Sunday, August 31st, 5:30pm
On the program as "A Study of 'Watchmen'"
D*C Academic Mini-Conference Session 3: New Scholarship on Watchmen. Three scholars present recent research based on the landmark graphic novel Watchmen. Matthew J. Brown (University of California, San Diego) explores the problem of vigilante justice in Watchmen in the context of the relationship between state authority, legitimacy, and personal morality. Jessica Lauren Keys (Georgia State University) traces the changes through time of the American heroic ideal and its reflection in the different eras portrayed in Watchmen. Nicole Wyatt (University of Calgary) discusses desire and objectification in Watchmen and argues that it presents not only an anti-porn view but also a sex-positive position.
Conference Schedule
Session 1: Philosophical and Religious Themes in Comics
Friday, August 29th, 5:30pm
Damien Williams (Georgia State University)
Egoism in Carey's Lucifer
J. J. Sylvia (University of Southern Mississippi)
Meta Much? The Philosophy of Teaching Philosophy Through Comics about Philosophy
Hannah Dame (University of Alabama)
Seeing the Buddha, Killing the Buddha: Grant Morrison and Buddhism
Session 2: Comics, Culture, and Criticism
Sunday, August 31st, 10:00am
Sabrina Starnaman (University of California, San Diego)
The Brotherhood of the VOICE: Constructing Truth and Reifying Power in Jonathan Hickman’s The Nightly News [A Lie Told in Six Parts]
Brian Curtis (Nashville State Community College)
Superheroes: the New Cyborg Post Modern Identity
Stuart Lenig (Columbia State)
Comics and Film: Facing the Apocalypse with Superheroes?
Session 3: New Scholarship on Watchmen
Sunday, August 31st, 5:30pm
Matthew J. Brown (University of California, San Diego)
Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? The Problem of Vigilante Justice in Watchmen
Jessica Lauren Keys (Georgia State University)
Watchmen and the American Heroic Ideal
Nicole Wyatt (University of Calgary)
Hustler and Tijuana bibles: Desire and Objectification in the Watchmen