Gender and Performativity in Webcomics

Authors

  • Maya Zalbidea Paniagua Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1807-9288.2019v15n1p79

Abstract

The remediation from comics to webcomics and flash animated comics will be explained highlighting the audiovisual modes they share with electronic literature works. Besides emphasizing the changes in the reading, publishing and commercial processes, the main aim of this article is to compare gender roles in characters of webcomics with the performativity and denaturalization theories by Judith Butler. In this study the author’s freedom to deal with controversial topics such as sexuality and gender is seen as a possibility of exploration of gender and queer issues which have not been taken into account in previous research. Four webcomics about gender issues will be analysed emphasizing Judith Butler’s concepts: The Sisterhood story from SinFest (2008) by Tatsuya Ishida, Khaos Komix (2007-2012) by Tab Kimpton, YU+ME:dream (2004), I Was Kidnapped By Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space (2006-2011) by Megan Rose Gedris and The Gay Monsters (2007) by Andy Bauer. Representing different subjectivities in a popular genre as webcomic defies traditional social conventions and popularizes the individual’s acceptance of his or her own sexuality.

Author Biography

Maya Zalbidea Paniagua, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España

Doctora en estudios literarios de países de habla inglesa y está acreditada por la ANECA. Actualmente trabaja como Profesora Asociada en la Facultad de Filología de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid y en el Instituto público bilingüe Joaquín Araujo de Fuenlabrada. Sus líneas de investigación principales son la literatura electrónica y los estudios feministas. En la Complutense colabora en el proyecto de investigación internacional SIIM: Studies on Intermediality and Intercultural Mediation. En el IES Joaquín Araujo es miembro del equipo de mediación y ha colaborado en el proyecto Global Classrooms. Fue investigadora visitante en la Universidad de Bergen de Noruega en el área de literatura electrónica en la plataforma de ELMCIP (2013-2014). Ha sido profesora en la Facultad de Educación (UCM) dando clases de Competencia Oral y Didáctica de la Lengua Extranjera y ha dirigido trabajos de Fin de Máster (2017-2018). 

References

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Published

2019-08-21

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2019)

Section

Articles

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