awaiting review
Der Sommer ihres Lebens (eng: The Summer of her Life)
Contemporary German writers and comic artists are tackling some of the most challenging issues humanity faces today. Many of these problems are not to be found on the front pages of the newspapers, but nonetheless play direct and crucial roles in the lives of us and our loved ones. In Barbara Yelin’s 2017 graphic novel Der Sommer ihres Lebens (eng: The Summer of her Life) the illustrator, along with writer Thomas von Steinaecker, takes on themes of ageing and care for the elderly, as well as the consequences of outdated gender roles in daily life and work. At the beginning… Read More
Pregnant Butch: Nine Long Months Spent in Drag
Guest review by Katie Laing A.K Summers in Pregnant Butch provides a realistic, relatable and humorous narrative into her experience of pregnancy as a butch, lesbian woman. The non-fictional graphic novel is the first by A.K Summers, “written in 2005 after the birth of her son” [1]. Written in first person, she challenges themes of societal norms, masculinity and gender roles whilst living in New York in the 1980s. Teek Summers uses comic form to accentuate and visualise the journey and struggles of the common yet underexpressed phenomenon that is queer pregnancy. Teek and her girlfriend Vee experience social pressure, as a result… Read More
Brighton keynote speaker announcement: Dr. Meg-John Barker
We are very excited to announce our first keynote speaker for the Graphic Medicine conference: Meg-John Barker is the author of a number of popular books on sex, gender, and relationships, including Queer: A Graphic History (with Julia Scheele), How To Understand Your Gender (with Alex Iantaffi), Enjoy Sex (How, When, and IF You Want To) (with Justin Hancock), Rewriting the Rules, The Psychology of Sex, and The Secrets of Enduring Love (with Jacqui Gabb). They have also written numerous books, articles, chapters, and reports for scholars and counsellors, drawing on their own research and therapeutic practice. In particular they have focused their academic-activist… Read More