Documenting War in Ukraine in Comics

Tuesday, 24 October 2023, 13.00–17.30
Kollegienhaus, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Mehrzweckraum 035

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Comics today represent a cultural phenomenon reflecting society's cultural and sociopo- litical landscape. They possess a remarkable ability to swiftly respond to various facets of human life, including environmental disasters, global crises, wars, displacement, vio- lence, and humiliation. Beyond their role as entertainment, comics serve as a versatile medium capable of addressing various subjects, fulfilling both documentary and investi- gative journalism needs, and oering socially relevant information. Consequently, co- mics have evolved into not only a distinct element of popular culture but also a political one, a kind of information warfare, particularly evident in times of armed conflict, such as the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.

This workshop aims to illuminate (self-)representations of Ukraine in predominantly do- cumentary comics and graphic novels created during wartime in Ukraine. It will focus on analyzing the various artistic responses to the Russian-Ukrainian war, narrative stra- tegies within comics, framing techniques, aesthetic elements, and the role of comics in depicting the war experience.

Participants

• Nina Mickwitz (London)
• Kees Ribbens (Amsterdam)
• Ralf Kauranen (Turku)
• Johannes C. P. Schmid (Flensburg)
• Gernot Howanitz (Innsbruck)
• Svitlana Pidoprygora (Mykolaiv/Basel)

The workshop is organized by Svitlana Pidoprygora (University of Basel, URIS fellow) and supported by the URIS – “Ukrainian Research in Switzerland” initiative.