Graphic Novels and the Work of Alison Bechdel

Thursday, April 7, 2011
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
BNW 469

Please join us for wine, cheese, and conversation about the work of graphic novelist Alison Bechdel. As described on her website: • Since its inception in 1983, Alison Bechdel's comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For has become a countercultural institution. The strip is syndicated in dozens of newspapers, translated into several languages and collected in a series of award-winning books. Utne magazine has listed DTWOF as "one of the greatest hits of the twentieth century." And Comics Journal says, "Bechdel's art distills the pleasures of Friends and The Nation; we recognize our world in it, with its sorrows and ironies." • In addition to her comic strip, Bechdel has also done exclusive work for a slew of publications, including Ms., Slate, the Advocate, and many other newspapers, websites, comic books, and 'zines. • In 2006, Houghton Mifflin published her graphic memoir, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. The bestselling coming-of-age tale has been called a "mesmerizing feat of familial resurrection" and a "rare, prime example of why graphic novels have taken over the conversation about American literature." http://dykestowatchoutfor.com/about We plan an informal discussion of this work, and its potential for informing our own teaching, work, and interests. When you register, we will send you copies of some of her work so you can take a look. We hope to see you on April 7!