Heidelberg School of Education
Voßstraße 2
Gebäude 4330
69120 Heidelberg
Deutschland
A WORKSHOP ON CRITICAL COMICS READING

Comics is a medium that is capable of transmitting complicated and diversified social and political messages. The unique language of comic books as a visual art, encompassing both words and images, makes them perfect for a variety of social, or political purposes. They might be used as a vehicle for propaganda aimed at keeping up political hegemony as well as an instrument of subversive actions. Comic books (and graphic novels) may also be used for educational purposes in various areas, from science to humanities. Therefore, the ability to critically read comic books and graphic novels is important.
Participants of this workshop will gain insight into an online teaching module on critical comics reading. They will learn about the idea of the course and its content as well as its relation to critical media literacy. Beyond theoretical reflection, participants will actively explore the language of comics through a hands-on activity.
As the workshop also aims to discuss teaching comics at different levels of academic education, members of the entire academic community – students as well as lecturers – are warmly invited to participate.
ABOUT WOJCIECH LEWANDOWSKI
Wojciech Lewandowski is associate professor of political science at the University of Warsaw and 2023 Fulbright Visiting Scholar, The Ohio State University. His research is focused on political discourse and its representations and on depictions of social and political phenomena in popular culture. Politics is discussed through a lens of meanings and interpretations audiences attach to it. Author of From Fascist Dystopia to Anarchistic Utopia. Political Ideas in Alan Moore’s and David Lloyd’s ‘V for Vendetta’ Graphic Novel (2019; published in Polish), Capitalism, Freedom, Future: Picture of Polish Transformation in the Graphic Novel ‘Osiedle Swoboda’ (in Identity and History in Non-Anglophone Comics, 2023), and Not So Much United: Comics, Scotland, and the Future of Post-Brexit United Kingdom (in Meeting of Scotland and Europe, 2024).
REGISTRATION
This workshop is free; no prior registration required.