Jennifer de Guzman » Pop Culture

Oh, You Sexy Geek: The Responses

Jennifer de Guzman — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:36:21 +0000

On Monday, I sent G4 president Neal Tiles a link to my post and Feminist Fatale‘s post about Chris Gore’s conduct at the “Oh, You Sexy Geek” panel. On Tuesday, I was pleased to receive this response from him:

Hey Jennifer, saw your tweet regarding Chris Gore’s reprehensible comments at Comic Con…Im disappointed at hearing this to say the least…especially, given the positive intention of the panel this occurred at. While we will certainly look into this and address with Chris, please realize, he was not booked by G4 for this. Also, know that he is not an employee of the network, rather he is currently an expert hired by us to do a weekly segment on AOTS, and he is assigned other work from time to time like Comic-Con.

He is, however, attached to G4 to the point that his appearances and comment may be seen as representing G4…accordingly…we will address.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention and please accept our regret that this occurred down at San Diego.

So that’s good.

I’ve been rightfully criticized for focusing too much on negative aspects of the panel. While I do feel the disappointing and downright offensive dominated the discussion, there were some comments by Jill Pantozzi, Jennifer Stiller, Clare Kramer, and Kiala that deserve attention, so I’ll link to some panel reports that had a different take from mine:

Ali Colluccio at iFanboy.com

Laurel Woods at MTV Geek

In addition there have been some insightful posts about issues underlying the topic the panel was addressing:

“The Origins of the Slave Leia Costume” at Stellar Four

“Attack of the Princess Naked” at Revenge of the Fans (by Suzanne Scott)

Suzanne Scott offers some suggestions for future iterations of the panel. I would have liked more media literacy on display, and I would have liked if Katrina Hill, the moderator, would have encouraged the panel to dig a little deeper when flip answers were given. For example, a laugh line like “Because we’re all a bunch bitches!” and an invocation of “Baby Got Back” as an answer to why women criticize each other shouldn’t have been allowed to stand as the only answers. Or when “They’re drawn that way” was given as a reason to dress up in sexy costumes. A woman who is an actress in Hollywood and affected perhaps more than anyone else present (save Adrianne Curry, who told of her frustration with the fashion industry’s demand for thinness but then blamed it on “gay men who are jealous of your boobs”) like Clare Grant should have been questioned when she says that she doesn’t read certain media, so the depiction of women doesn’t affect her.

All in all, I didn’t envy Katrina Hill her job. It seemed like it was a tricky panel to wrangle. I may have thought it was disappointing, but others got something from it, and that’s definitely a start to a good discussion.

Comic-Con: The Take-Aways

Jennifer de Guzman — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:27:55 +0000

I realized something this year, as I attended Comic-Con with my eighteen-year-old niece and eighteen-month-old son: Comic-Con is fun again. No booth duty means no stresses about changing out signing areas, answering questions, or finding time to eat. Now I have time to rekindle my love of comics. The booth was always on the verge of chaos at Comic-Con. With no set schedules, there was a sense of guilt about leaving the booth for any purpose. My first year officially working the booth, a co-worker gave me a dressing down because I had taken an hour away from the booth to eat. The last year I worked the booth, I put that aside because I was three months pregnant and exhausted. I needed to eat when I was hungry and nap when I was tired. That was a revelation.

Pressure to work and long, uninterrupted hours on your feet are bad for one’s perspective of comics. It inculcates weariness with the industry, and along with it a strong cynicism and jadedness — which in turn lead to attitudes that infect your thinking and the attitudes of those around you. Without leisure time to look at the small press area and Artists’ Alley, you can lose the perspective that comics is, indeed, about art and story and not an endless process of setting out books on tables then removing them, of asking people in lines not to block aisles, of being asked to review yet another portfolio of superhero pencils.

So instead of standing at a booth and being filled with an angsty sense of discontent, I was looking at comics. I was looking at comics so much that I missed all of the panels I wanted to go to (though to be fair, bad scheduling on the part of a grumpy, nap-needing toddler also played a part). I talked to friends about comics and stories and industry issues. I talked to friends about what was going on in our personal and creative lives.

And here’s what I scored:

Hark, a Vagrant! by Kate Beaton — Drawn and Quarterly had a limited quantity of advanced copies signed by the author. I got number 268 of 300. Phew! I have loved Kate Beaton’s work for a long time. Her comics are reproduced well here. Her self-published book Never Learn Anything from History, had some production problems with anti-aliasing, but Hark, a Vagrant! looks great. The book design is fun, too.

Cursed Pirate Girl by Jeremy Bastian — I bought the graphic novel and a print after Valeri showed me a print she’d bought. Bastian somehow achieves extremely fine linework with a brush, and he hand-stains his prints with tea to make them look aged. I started reading the book on the plane, and it’s charming and more than a little surreal.

Remind by Jason Brubaker — I picked this up primarily because it’s gorgeous, a well-designed hardcover with a foil-stamped and debossed cover, and art with deep blacks and murky (in a good way) watercolor-like colors. It’s about a girl named Sonia whose cat isn’t all that he seems. The back cover copy had the phrase “sleepy coastal town,” my favorite setting for stories and vacations, so I was sold. A lot of others were, too; each copy of the first print is stamped with a number — I got 1068 of 2000.

Sergio Aragones Funnies #1 — As Brian said, “It’s like all the best parts of MAD!”

I looked at Lucille by Ludovic Debeurme at the Top Shelf booth for a long time. It’s a lovely book with minimalist art about a girl struggling with anorexia. It’s a big, heavy book, so I decided that I would buy it off-site so I didn’t have to lug it home in my suitcase.

I picked up some other things, too . For Mateo we got an Ugly Doll hat, a Yoda print by Grant Gould, a little Chewbacca plushie (he kept kissing it, so of course we had to get it), and a tiny painting of a tiny Mateo and a tiny Mr. George by Katie Cook. For myself, I got a necklace from Stellanova. I had the octopus already, so this time I got the ‘apapane. I also got a Bumper Boy purse holder.

Part three of my Comic-Con blogging coming soon — the trends I noticed!

Sunday at Comic-Con

Jennifer de Guzman — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:15:07 +0000

Is Sunday still family day at Comic-Con? I’m not sure. Last year, my family opted out of Sunday. We had a six-month old and we were a little tired, but later I regretted it. So none of that this year! Also, I’m bringing my niece with us as her graduation gift, so I don’t want to cheat her out of a day of Comic-Connin’ it.

Here’s what looks interesting to me.

10:00-11:00 Axe Cop— Meet Comic-Con special guests Ethan and Malachai Nicolle, the 30- and 7-year-old brothers behind the award-winning web comic and print series Axe Cop (Dark Horse Comics). With moderator Kevin Murphy (Mystery Science Theater 3000, Riff Trax) and other guests Ethan and Malachai discuss Axe Cop and give you an exclusive look at what’s coming up in the world of the head-chopping policeman. At age 7, Malachi is Comic-Con’s youngest special guest ever! Room 6DE

Once in a while, Ethan and I will get into epic debates on Twitter, which as you can imagine, is not the best forum for epic debates. We disagree on a lot. A lot. But we do not disagree about what is funny. Ethan’s two Chumble Spuzz graphic novels are howlingly funny, and his collaboration with his younger brother is the kind of amazing that humor comics want to be but fall short of.

10:00-11:00 What’s Hot in Young Adult Fiction: Sit Down with the Writers We Can’t Stop Talking About— Hosted by Nathan Bransford (Jacob Wonderbar Cosmic Space Kapow), and featuring panelists Andrea Cremer (Nightshade series), Amanda Hocking (Hollowland), Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me), Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss), Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone), and Kiersten White (Paranormalcy), who discuss the YA phenomenon and their books. Room 23ABC

If I have to choose between the Axe Cop panel and this, I’ll choose Axe Cop. Gotta support your homies, right? And, besides, I have a lot of other YA fiction panels on my to-go-to list.

10:00-11:00 Diversity and Fandom 102: How You Can Make a Difference— In the wake of campaigns like Racebending.com’s protests and the rise of safe spaces like Racialicious.com, fans, consumers and creators from underrepresented groups have more outlets for speaking up. This panel explores how those voices can be added to conversations with geeky business interests and fan communities. Actor Dante Basco (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Hook), showrunner/writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Middleman), author Malinda Lo (Huntress), Arturo Garcia (Racialicious.com), Phil Yu (AngryAsianMan.com) and USC Professor Henry Jenkins (Civic Paths Project) promise a lively discussion, moderated by Racebending.com. Room 24ABC

Auuuughh, no! I really wanted to go to this! I’ve been saying for a while that most comics fans are idiots when it comes to racism and sexism, and I support any project that’s meant to educated comics readers about these issues. Also, I would like to meet Phil Yu to thank him for mentioning the vigil for my niece Michel on his blog. And for calling her murderer a “psycho loser-ass.”

10:00-11:00 Comic Book Fairs: Using Comics as a Literacy Tool— A diverse group of panelists from across the comic book, education, and nonprofit industries offer a frank and educational discussion celebrating and appreciating the role of Archie comics in academia. Archie Comics co-CEO and former teacher Nancy Silberkleit leads a panel that includes Kimberly Earle (CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving), Michael Bitz (ComicBookProject.org), and David Rojas (Archie Education) to discuss how schools can adopt comics in the classroom, how to create comic book-oriented lesson plans, student-created comic book projects, and what Archie Education has planned. Room 32AB

I won’t be able to attend this one, either, but I thought it was interesting.

10:30-12:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #13: Monsters, Somnambulism, and Anarchy: Romantic Vertigo in the Modern Age— Kristy Boney (University of Central Missouri) delves into the influence of German Romanticism on Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. Alex Boney (thepanelists.org) explores the Romantic themes and central worldview that guide the works of Grant Morrison, from The Invisibles to Seven Soldiers to his Batman run. Allison DuShane (University of Arizona) considers how Grant Morrison, in We3, employs formal elements unique to the medium of comics to critique the ways in which animals have been appropriated by culture to serve human interests. Room 26AB

Yargh, again with the overlapping! C’mon, Comic-Con, why didn’t you consult my interests?

12:00-1:00 The Philippine Invasion— Back in the 1970s, comics were “invaded” by an incredible influx of talented artists from the Philippines. Some of them became mainstays in American comics. This year, Comic-Con has invited some of those artists to appear at the event as special guests, including Ernie Chan, Tony DeZuniga, and Alex Niño, along with current-generation Filipino artist Gerry Alanguilan. Writer and editor Mark Waid talks with this quartet who have made an indelible mark in American comics. Room 4

There’s no way I’m missing this! Everyone needs to read Alanguilan’s Eisner-nominated graphic novel Elmer. I wonder, though, why there aren’t more Filipinas working in comics. And why not “The Filipino Invasion”?

12:30-1:30 BBC America’s Doctor Who— Stars Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, along with writers and producers, make their first Comic-Con appearance for a panel and Q&A! They’re bringing exclusive new footage of the new season to be shown ahead of its late summer return on BBC America. Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Doctor, the mysterious traveler who journeys throughout all of time and space, picking up companions along the way and almost always sidestepping danger. From award-winning lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat and starring BAFTA nominee Matt Smith as the Doctor and Karen Gillan as his companion Amy Pond, the second season’s Part One delivered record ratings for BBC America and marked the first time Doctor Who filmed on American soil. Also starring Arthur Darvill and Alex Kingston, the Part One finale ended with the unveiling of a massive secret and the words “Let’s Kill Hitler” on screen. Part One is now available on Blu-ray/DVD/iTunes, and Part Two premieres late summer on BBC America’s Supernatural Saturdays. Hall H

There’s probably zero chance of me getting into this panel, and it overlaps with The Philippine Invasion. But I do adore the latest two seasons of Doctor Who. It’s magical and sentimental in just the way I like, and Neil Gaiman finally wrote an episode! I’m just glad he got to write it for this Doctor and these companions.

1:00-2:00 PW: What Comes After the Graphic Novel?— With Borders’s bankruptcy shaking the publishing world and the health of brick-and-mortar stores everywhere being watched anxiously, the world of comics publishing is entering a new world of tablets, websites and, yes, good old comics shops. Join PW Comics World co-editor Heidi MacDonald in a discussion with publishing professionals as they take a look at what’s next on the horizon. Participants include Judy Hansen, Hansen Literary Agency; Portlyn Freeman, co-owner, Brave New World Comics; Jeff Webber, eBooks director, IDW; and Terry Nantier, NBM publisher. Room 25ABC

Wait, what? We only just got people to say “graphic novel” and, still, most people I talk to don’t even know what that is. Now we have to think about what comes after them?

1:30-2:30 Editing Comics the BOOM! Studios Way— BOOM! Studios editor-in-chief Matt Gagnon talks to three of fandom’s favorite BOOM! writers – Chris Roberson (Starborn, iZombie, Superman), Daryl Gregory (Planet of the Apes, Dracula Company of Monsters), and Michael Alan Nelson (28 Days Later, Dingo, Hexed) — about the ins and outs of editing comics at BOOM! Don’t miss this in-depth look into the editing secrets of one of the comic book industry’s leading independent publishers as they discuss editing dos and don’ts at today’s hottest comic book company. Room 23ABC

A panel about editing? Yessss. I think Comic-Con did a bit of thoughtless scheduling here, as I think many of the same people who would want to go to the Publishers Weekly panel would want to go to this one.

2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Joëlle Jones— Since her debut illustrating 2 Reasons Why I Love Her in 2006, Comic-Con special guest Joëlle Jones has been one of comics’ most talked-about new artists. Get in on the conversation as Jones sits down with journalist Erik Henriksen and her long-time collaborator Jamie S. Rich to discuss her various projects from Oni Press, Vertigo, and Dark Horse and what it’s like to draw Dr. Horrible, Madman, and Spider-Man. Room 4

Should be a nice discussion with a very talented artist!

2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #16: The Culture of Comic-Con: Field Studies of Fans and Marketing— Matthew J. Smith (Wittenberg University) moderates a panel of graduate and undergraduate students – Kane Anderson (University of California Santa Barbara), Alissa Armstrong, Austin Bragg, and David Erickson (all from Wittenberg University), Jonathan Judy (Kent State University), Kamuela Kaneshiro and Leah Michaels (both from Hawaii Pacific University), Melissa Miller (Georgia State University), and Jonathan Rupert(Wittenberg University) — who present initial findings of a week-long field study of the intersection of fan practice at the nexus of cultural marketing and fan culture at Comic-Con. A discussion with the audience follows the presentations. Room 26AB

Ooooh, field study! Watch out, Comic-Conners, you’re anthropological subjects!

Saturday at Comic-Con

Jennifer de Guzman — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:52:01 +0000

Saturday has a lot of great panels, which is perfect because Saturday is also the day that the convention floor becomes a terrifying, writhing mass of bodies inching along toward some unspecified goal. Going upstairs to get away from it is a good way to avoid burnout and exhaustion. Some of the panels I’ve chosen overlap, so I have some choices to make!

10:00-11:00 From Buddha to Batman: Deepak Chopra and Grant Morrison Discuss The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes— Five years ago, New York Timesbestselling author and internationally renowned spiritual guru Deepak Chopra joined legendary comic book writer Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Supergods) at Comic-Con to discuss the role superheroes play in the social fabric. What started as a thought-provoking panel discussion has since become a profound new teaching manual for discovering the superhero within — Chopra’s new book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes. Now Chopra and Morrison are back to elaborate on what the superhero archetype means for us today. Joined by Deepak’s son Gotham Chopra (founder of Liquid Comics) and moderated by Chris Carle (editorial director of IGN Entertainment), the discussion will cover the seven essential laws that govern the realm of superheroes and the cultural importance of superheros — why they matter, why they will always be with us, and what they tell us about who we are…and what we may yet become. Q&A to follow. Room 6A

I’m not much for spiritual gurus, but I do love the study of mythology, and the superhuman has always been a part of human storytelling, from Gilgamesh and Enkidu forward. So we’ll see what these “essential laws” are and maybe I will discover the “superhero within.” I wonder what my superpower is.

12:00-1:00 Being Human— Find out why Being Human is harder than it looks — especially when you’re a vampire, werewolf, or ghost. Don’t miss Sam Witwer (Aidan), Meaghan Rath (Sally), and Sam Huntington (Josh) as they join executive producers Jeremy Carver and Anna Fricke on Syfy’s first Being Human panel, moderated by award-winning writer Nadira Hira (expert on Generation Y; contributor, Fortune magazine). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

This is all the way in a different building from the convention center, but it’s also around lunch time, which is a good time to get out of the convention center. I enjoy Being Human, so this may be good. These are my least favorite kinds of panels, though, without a specific point of view or real craft element, just actors and producers talking about their show. And what the heck makes one an “expert on Generation Y”?

12:30-1:30 Diversity in Young Adult Works— It’s not all about being torn between vampire and werewolf boyfriends. This panel is a celebration of different genres, protagonists, and media for young adult readers. The diverse authors participating include Cindy Pon (Fury of the Phoenix), Kiersten White (Supernaturally), Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), Vera Brosgol (Anya’s Ghost), Gene Yang (Level Up), and Elizabeth Bunce (A Curse Dark As Gold). Moderated by Malinda Lo (Huntress). Room 8

There are a couple of creators I know on this panel — Dave Roman and Gene Yang — and the subject is one that interests me. Awhile ago, I had this idea that SLG might be better off publishing graphic novels that are specifically targeted to young adults and marketed accordingly, but Dan didn’t want to limit the scope of what we publish or change the image of the company. He was probably right, but I do love young adult graphic novels. They engage a young audience and have crossover appeal as well, so you really get two audiences in a way that I don’t think you do marketing to adult readers.

2:30-3:30 The Art of the Graphic Novel— Andrew Farago (curator, Cartoon Art Museum) talks with graphic novelists Chester Brown (Paying for It), Seymour Chwast(Dante’s Divine Comedy), Eric Drooker (Blood Song), Joyce Farmer (Special Exits, A Memoir), Joëlle Jones (Troublemaker), Jason Shiga (Empire State: A Love Story (Or Not)), and Craig Thompson (Habibi) about their work in the genre that has elevated comics to mainstream bookstores all over the world. Room 24ABC

Joëlle Jones is one of my favorite artists working in comics, and her collaborations with my friend Jamie S. Rich are outstanding. I also enjoy Jason Shiga’s and Craig Thompson’s work.

Adventure Time art by Andy Ristaino

3:00-4:00 Cartoon Network: Adventure Time— What time is it?! It’s Adventure Time…Comic-Con style! See what’s in store for Finn, Jake, and all their friends from the mystical Land of Ooo as Cartoon Network’s breakout hit comes to you live with a star-studded panel of talent, including show creator Pendleton Ward, Jeremy Shada (Finn), Hynden Walch (Princess Bubblegum), Olivia Olson (Marceline the Vampire Queen), Kent Osborne (storyboard artist), and others. If you want to see sneak peaks of upcoming episodes (and we know you do!), be the first to learn about upcoming special events (don’t deny it!), and want to get your hands on some algebraic Adventure Time gear (Hammacow!), you do not want to miss this totally out-of-this-world panel! Room 6A

Mateo loves watching Adventure Time, and we love watching it with him. I need to get him some Adventure Time gear. I want to be Marceline the Vampire Queen for Halloween and dress Mateo up as Finn. Our friend and awesome comics creator Andy Ristaino is one of the character designers on the show.

3:00-4:00 Creator-Owned Comics with Robert Kirkman— Image Comics partner and bestselling writer Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) is joined by Image Comics publisher Eric Stephenson and some very special guests to discuss the exciting present and future possibilities of creator-owned comics. Be one of the first to hear some major announcements from the leading publisher of creator-owned comics. Plus: an exclusive print for first 100 attendees! Room 7AB

This is a clever way to approach the dreaded independent publisher panel. Talk about what it’s like being an independent publisher or a creator who owns his own work, rather than just the upcoming titles.

3:30-4:30 Love & Comics Panel— Who’s showing the love in comics? Comics creators extraordinaire Jason Shiga (Meanwhile; Empire State), Kazu Kibuishi (Explorer, Amulet, Copper, Flight), Amy Kim Kibuishi (Sorcerers and Secretaries), Raina Telgemeier (Explorer, Smile, The Baby-Sitters Club), and Dave Roman (Explorer, Astronaut Academy, Agnes Quill) talk about how their love of comics plays out in the game of life, about how the collaborative process works, and about their most important pictures from the heart. Panel moderated by Sheila Keenan, senior editor, Abrams ComicArts. Room 8

Awwwww, wuv. Who wuvs comics? We wuv comics! No, seriously, we do.

3:30-4:30 How to Get News Coverage— Small press publishers: what makes the difference between an item that will get news coverage, previews, interviews and one that won’t? A lot of publishers have no idea what to submit to the press, how to submit it, and why they are being overlooked for coverage. Comic journalist Rik Offenberger (First Comics News, Archie Comics) moderates this panel with the comic journalists themselves telling you what they are looking for in your submissions. Panelists include Holly Golightly (BroadSword Studios), Laura Hudson (Comics Alliance), Rich Johnston (Bleeding Cool), Kiel Phegley (CBR), Chris Thompson (First Comics News), and J. C. Vaughn (The Scoop). Find out what it takes to self-promote and make a significant impact on your ability to sell your comics project. Room 24ABC

I might have to forgo the love for more a more practical panel, since I do want to learn how to get better coverage — both for the publisher I am working for and also for some independent projects I’ve been thinking about.

4:00-4:45 How to Get an Audience into Your Main Character’s Shoes— Whether your main character is a hero, a villain, a sidekick, or a one-of-a-kind original, empathizing with him or her is essential if you want your audience to experience your story at a personal level. This workshop by Chris Huntley (award-winning story development consultant) gives you several surefire, practical techniques to get your audience squarely involved in your main character’s personal issues. Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina

Woo, workshop! As I’m writing my new novel (which is really a rewrite of an old novel), this is going to be helpful. Each volume of the three-volume series has three narrators, and I need for readers to connect with them in a short amount of time, especially since this is a YA novel.

5:30-6:30 Comics in the Classroom— Teachers Anastasia Betts (UCLA), Christina Blanch (Ball State University), Thien Pham (Bishop O’Dowd High School), and Cheryl Wozniak (San Francisco Public Schools) discuss the place of comics in the classroom. Moderated by Chris Duffy (Nursery Rhyme Comics). Room 26AB

At this point, I may be too tired and hungry to go to a panel. Someday I might go back and do what I originally intended to do with my English degree — get accredited and teach English in a high school or college — so this is the kind of panel that may help me decide.

Friday at Comic-Con

Jennifer de Guzman — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:00:09 +0000

There were only a couple of panels that caught my eye for Friday at Comic-Con.

6:00-7:00 Girls Gone Genre— Come talk with women who write, read, game, and perform in arenas that are statistically dominated by men. What happens when traditionally “male” genres are reinvented by female writers and embraced by female fans? Sex and the City it ain’t. Meet the women who like to play with trucks and Barbies. And Wolverine action figures. And flux capacitors. Moderator Jenna Busch is joined by panelists Marti Noxon (screenwriter/producer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Mad Men, Fright Night), Gale Anne Hurd (producer, The Walking Dead, Terminator, Aliens), and Marjorie Liu (writer, X-23, Daken: Dark Wolverine, Black Widow, Dirk & Steele novel series). Room 25ABC

I tried to attend this panel last year, but Felicia Day was one of the panelists, so it filled pretty quickly. It should be a lively discussion.

8:00-9:00 geekEd: Bringing Geek Back to Higher Education— A panel of college professionals, including Alex Belisario (UC Santa Cruz), Alfred Day (Semester at Sea), Ryan McRae (CSU San Marcos), Tyler Miller (Fresno State), and Emily Sandoval (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), discuss how geek culture and college life can enhance one another. Learn how colleges can reach out to geeks, how geeks can use their identities to increase college success, and what partnerships are being formed between colleges and pop culture. If you are an industry or marketing professional, work at college, go to college, or desire to do any of those, this panel is for you! Room 9

In grad school, there was a little clutch of us who were into pop culture and genre fiction. I once presented a paper on artists’ narratives and I Feel Sick. (I offered to let Jhonen read it, but he said it would be weird.) I did a presentation on travel writing in comics. I feel like I have a foot in two different countries a lot of the time — there are the lit nerds and there are the nerd-nerds, and only a few shall meet. Fortunately, I know a few people with dual citzenship.

Thursday at Comic-Con

Jennifer de Guzman — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:37:51 +0000

Comic-Con International has posted its programming schedule for the convention’s first day, Thursday. If you’ve never gone before, you should know that you can’t just stroll up to the programming show and catch a panel as it’s starting. You have to line up — for hours, if it’s in Hall H. So it’s best to make a game plan. Here are the panels on Thursday that caught my interest:

Are these young women "pandering"? They look like they're just having fun to me! Photo by Jesse Means. Used under Creative Commons license.

10:45-11:45 Oh, You Sexy Geek!— Does displaying the sexiness of fangirls benefit or demean them? When geek girls show off, are they liberating themselves or pandering to men? Do some “fake fangirls” blend sex appeal with nerdiness just to appeal to the growing geek/nerd market, or is that question itself unfair? And what’s up with all the Slave Leias? Action flick chick Katrina Hill (ActionFlickChick.com) asks Bonnie Burton (Grrl.com), Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model), Clare Grant (Team Unicorn, “G33k & G4m3r Girls”), Kiala Kazebee (Nerdist.com), Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Nerdy Bird Jill Pantozzi (“Has Boobs, Reads Comics”), Jennifer K. Stuller (Ink-Stained Amazons, GeekGirlCon) and Chris Gore (G4TV’s Attack of the Show!) to discuss whether fans can be sexy and geeky at the same time — and if they should! Room 6A

Here’s my take: A lot of geek girls, like geek guys, do not get a lot of attention from the opposite sex. They might be perceived as mousy or awkward or odd. But when they get into the world of fandom, suddenly, by dint of the relative scarcity of their sex, they get a lot of male attention. I do think a few geek girls play up to this — and I don’t like it, because I get the uncomfortable shifty feeling of wanting to tell them they don’t have to do that. I want to be clear that I don’t blame or judge the young women for doing this; I blame geek culture — so much of it tells women they’re only of value if they’re of sexual value. (Hell, let’s strike “geek” and say culture in general, but it is particularly marked in comics, I think.) I’ve also seen comments by men in geek communities accusing women who an interest in geeky things of pandering — seemingly on the basis that these women are conventionally attractive and have no problems attracting the interest of the opposite sex. There’s a good summary of the controversy here.

11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Dick DeBartolo— Comic-Con special guest Dick DeBartolo talks about the bizarre way MAD bought his first piece and the mad way William M. Gaines, founder and publisher, ran MAD (such as white wine in the water cooler and free trips to foreign countries for members of the Usual Gang of Idiots!). He also talks about how, while working at Mark Goodson–Bill Todman Productions, his MAD background saved The Match Game from being canceled. In the Q&A Dick will answer questions about MAD, TV game shows, and his (and Gaines’s) love of gadgets. He will not entertain any history, math, or geography questions. In a desperate attempt to get people to attend, Dick will give some MAD stuff away at his presentation. Room 8

Brian and I are fans of the (Weekly) Daily Giz Wiz. It was the first podcast Mateo ever heard — Brian listened to it in our hospital room while I slept. Dick DeBartolo is a funny guy and has great stories about the grand old days of MAD magazine.

1:15-2:15 Books vs. Graphic Novels and Comics— Writers often dabble with various forms of art as an outlet for their creativity. In this panel, authors discuss the process and collaboration involved in publishing a graphic novel versus a novel, as well as the role comic books play in the creation of their characters and story arcs. Panelists Christopher Moore and Ian Corson (The Griff), Jim Butcher (The Harry Dresden series), Tom Sniegoski (The Fallen series), Amber Benson (The Calliope Reaper Jones novels), and Matthew Holms (Babymouse, Squish) talk about the differences and similarities with moderator David Mariotte of Mysterious Galaxy. Room 6A

As someone who writes prose and comics, this is of particular interest to me. I’ve not read the work of any of the panelists, but that usually isn’t necessary for panels about craft rather than specific works.

4:30-5:30 Comics for Teens— Comics creators Cecil Castelluci (Plain Janes), Hope Larson (Mercury), Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole), and Gene Luen Yang (Level Up) come together for a discussion of what makes a comic fit a teen audience. Do books for teens have something special that books for kids and adults don’t have? Moderated by Scott Westerfeld (New York Times bestselling teen author). Room 26AB

I relatively recently decided that I write young adult fiction, and I have a young adult graphic novel brewing in my head. This panel is essential for me! I know Hope Larson and Gene Yang, and they’re both awesome. I’ve read Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series as well.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Magical Game Time

Jennifer de Guzman — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 06:53:40 +0000

A college student with an obscure interdisciplinary major might do well to consider the influence of the Japanese principle of mono no aware on video games. The phrase is difficult to translate, and it’s rendered variously as “sensitivity to things” or “sensitivity to ephemera.” It describes a certain wistfulness in art, an awareness of impermanence and of change, and the ability to pause and consider what emotions feels like. The game that I would most identify with mono no aware is “The Legend of Zelda”, and Zac Gorman captures this feeling in his wonderful web comic Magical Game Time. (It was called I Draw Nintendo when I first saw it, but he has since changed it because of possible trademark problems and the limitation it imposed to only draw Nintendo-themed comics.)

What I love about this particular comic is the reminder to the reader — or gamer — of the emotions of the characters she is controlling or attempting to save. Also, it reminds me how the crude but delightful graphics of the Nintendo Entertainment System and the heroic, iconic music of “The Legend of Zelda” bring my childhood back to me — though I know I can never really have my childhood back. That effect is mono no aware. So is the inspiration for the game, which Shigeri Miyamoto explained was his own childhood wanderings in the rural area where he grew up, and his intent — to supply “limitless wonder.”

And apparently Luigi also has an innate sense of mono no aware:

Brooding Mentor Dream Boats: The Marriage of Sticks by Jonathan Carroll

Jennifer de Guzman — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 06:42:36 +0000

Associate Professor Stefane August, Brooding Mentor Dream Boat

I’ve just started reading The Marriage of Sticks by Jonathan Carroll, and at about 75 pages in, I knew I needed to come up with a counterpart to the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, the effervescent ingenue who brings magic to the life of some world-weary boring guy. The woman in the equation — she could be either an unlucky-in (or just bored-with)-love woman who is past her ingenue days or an ingenue who has come into full awareness of her vitality — unexpectedly gets swept up by a force of nature that I am hereafter calling the Brooding Mentor Dream Boat.

He’s handsome; he’s older; he has Things to Teach. He finds the heroine irresistible, perhaps inexplicably to the reader, and always inexplicably to the heroine. He has an appropriately dreamy name. In The Marriage of Sticks, it’s Hugh Oakley, and the woman he has ensnared with his crotch/ego is Miranda Romanac, a rare book dealer. He’s married; she feels guilty but not guilty enough to resist him. Because he’s so dreamy.

Here’s an excerpt:

Sexually, he was marvelous because he had had so much experience. He admitted for years women had drifted in and out of his life like incense. His wife knew about many of these affairs but they had come to a truce about them: so long as he was discreet and never brought home any part of these other relationships, Charlotte turned a blind eye….

If that was true, why had he allowed me to come into his apartment?

“Because I was already gone for you by then. Gone like never before. I would have done anything. I broke every one of my rules.”

“Why, Hugh? Why me after all those other women? The way you describe some of them, they were incredible.”

“There’s never a satisfying answer to that. No matter what I say, it won’t assure you or lessen your doubts. Love is like an autistic child when it comes to giving good explanations.”

Yep. But why, Hugh? You’re so amazing and dream boaty, and I’m just little old me! OK, so I am a successful business owner who is an expert on rare books and manuscripts whom you met at a dinner party to which I was invited because the hostess thinks I am smart and fascinating and all that, but WHY ME?

I have a feeling that Hugh is a Mary Sue character for Carroll — a “Gary Stu,” as some call them.

I keep reading reviews of The Marriage of Sticks the praise the poetry of Carroll’s prose, but to me, it seems very utilitarian. And the dialogue? As you can read for yourself — not the most breezy. Still, I’ll stick it out and report back to you.

Can anyone else identify some Brooding Mentor Dream Boats?

April Publishers Weekly Column

Jennifer de Guzman — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 06:51:14 +0000

My latest Life in Comics column is up at Publishers Weekly. It’s about what happens when Team Comics turns into Angry Mob Comics.

Toward a Working Definition of Racism, Part One

Jennifer de Guzman — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:46:26 +0000

Recently, some members of the comic book community were called out by MSNBC commentator Lawrence O’Donnell for a comic strip depicting Michelle Obama scarfing down hamburgers and bullying her husband. The strip is part of a series called “Obama Nation” by James Hudnall and Batton Lash, published on Andrew Breitbart’s site Big Hollywood. O’Donnell’s outrage was forced and there is no doubt that his naming of Lash’s wife and basically calling on people to harass them was despicable. Lash and his wife, good people who are active in the comics community, do not deserve the hateful treatment they’re receiving.

My initial reaction to the commentary was that this particular strip was just dull, not racist. However, upon looking at other “Obama Nation” strips (such as this and this one), I find that its variety of political “commentary” feeds the worst proclivities of political disagreement in this country. They stoke racial, religious, and class anxiety — encouraging people to distrust the Other and believe that there is a Manichaean struggle in all aspects in life; those who disagree with you, they say, are out to destroy you — they are your enemies.

This French sign displays what many would characterize as a misconception of what constitutes racism. (© Fiona Williams, /www.flickr.com/photos/katchooo/, used under Creative Commons license.)

The writer and artist have responded to the criticism, but I am less interested in the particulars of the criticism and defense than in those anxieties themselves. I really want to have a conversation about the most fraught of these anxieties: racism. Can we try?

Specifically, I want to explore the differences between the liberal and conservative conceptions of what constitutes racism. In his response, Hudnall uses the “aren’t those who are calling me racist the real racists?” argument that never works but is so often used. It is a manifestation — but not a clarification — of the very difference I hope to discuss.

I think it’s only fair that I try to explain my own definition of racism, which is, like most things about me, a work in progress. I think, however, that it closely aligns with “typical” liberal thinking. Here are the concepts that underly my definition of racism:

Racism is privileged. When you hear people say something like, “black people can’t be racist,” this is the underlying assumption — which if you do not share, makes such a statement seem outright ludicrous. What it means is that racism is perpetuated by people in a group that historically has been in a position of power against people who are in a group that has historically not been in such a position. This is not to say that minorities cannot be bigoted — they can be, and they can be hateful. But this concept holds that racism is something different from just bigotry or hate. In fact, outright enmity may be absent from expressions or manifestations of racism. That is because –

Racism is systemic. This is what people talk about when they refer to “institutional racism.” The history of racism in our country has lasting, residual effects. Minorities, kept out of positions of power due to overt racism, continue to be underrepresented in such positions. This creates the perception that they don’t belong in positions of power, and this perception may be conscious or unconscious. Either way, people may act in ways that maintain the power structure. Thus, minority points of view and minorities themselves are marginalized, seen as the “Other.” Everyone in a society where racism has existed institutionally is affected by it, and one of the key ways to end racism is to not deny this fact but to learn to be aware of it. Otherwise, we run into the problem that –

Racism is self-perpetuating. The function of racism — whether those perpetuating it are conscious of it or not — is to justify and perpetuate the existing societal power structure.

(Bonus: This framework also works with sexism!)

In my next post, I will use this framework to analyze why a particular “Obama Nation” comic (not the one O’Donnell commented on) can be interpreted as being racist and write about how I perceive conservative conceptions of racism.