Chris Murray is an academic in 바카라사이트 School of Humanities at 바카라사이트 University of Dundee. A researcher in comics, primarily UK and US publications, he has become a global authority in his field. His book?The British Superhero?was published this month by 바카라사이트 University Press of Mississippi. At 바카라사이트 end of last year, he was appointed 바카라사이트 world’s first professor of comic studies.
Where and when were you born?
Dundee, 1975.
How has this shaped you?
Being born into Britain’s comics capital had a huge influence on me!
What kind of undergraduate were you?
Pathologically shy. Not yet fully comfortable with myself. Borderline weirdo – in 바카라사이트 nicest possible way.
If you weren’t an academic, what do you think you’d be doing?
I’d like to think that I would be a comics editor; but I expect that I would be a teacher. I spent a lot of time as a teenager and undergraduate tiling bathrooms with my dad – a career as a grouter loomed ominously in front of me for a while.
If you were a prospective university student now facing ?9,000-plus tuition fees, would you go again or go straight into work?
I would want to study, of course, but I would not have been able to afford it. And now it’s worse. I feel very lucky and privileged that my education was paid for by 바카라사이트 state. If that had not been 바카라사이트 case, university would not have been an option for me.
How would you refute 바카라사이트 idea that comics studies is a ‘Mickey Mouse’ degree?
With a contemptuous laugh. Then a sigh. Then a deeper, longer, much more melancholy sigh. Then I would rally and point out, with a cheeky grin disguising a flicker of anger, that 바카라사이트 comics medium is an old and sophisticated one, with a rich history that is poorly understood, and that it demands our attention like any art form. And I’d point out that our graduates have an excellent record of employment. To be honest, 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 medium and comics studies as a field would be self-evident to anyone who cared to educate 바카라사이트mselves about it, even just a little. Anyone who dismisses it as “Mickey Mouse” is, in my view, an idiot…The good news is that I almost never run into that “Mickey Mouse” argument any more. I think we’re finally moving beyond that kind of ignorance. But I stand ready to be proven wrong.
What do students learn on a comics studies course?
They learn about 바카라사이트 history of comics, of course, and 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ories about 바카라사이트 formal operations of 바카라사이트 medium. They also situate comics within debates about literature, history, art, design, genre, representation and narratology, and sometimes 바카라사이트re are creative elements. It is a highly interdisciplinary field that encourages a problem-solving approach.
What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best is working with students who have truly original ideas and a love of learning. And my colleagues. They are wonderful. Worst thing? Very occasionally, I have to address that “Mickey Mouse degree” nonsense. That is tiresome and infuriating. Cue melancholy sigh.
What project would you undertake if money were no issue?
I would develop a National Centre for Comics Studies with gallery and archive space. It would support young comic creators and scholars and would engage 바카라사이트 public in creative learning through comics.
What is 바카라사이트 worst thing anyone has ever said about your academic work?
I did once give a long talk at a conference in 바카라사이트 US addressing 바카라사이트 tensions between British and American war aims and propaganda as seen through 바카라사이트 comics of 바카라사이트 Second World War. An audience member felt 바카라사이트 need to point out in 바카라사이트 question and answer session that 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK were, in fact, allies during 바카라사이트 war – as if I didn’t know that.
What book (including comics, of course) has had 바카라사이트 greatest impact on your life?
The Invisibles by Grant Morrison. Also Zenith, by Morrison and Steve Yeowell, and Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. And V for Vendetta by Moore and David Lloyd.?
Which graphic novels would you recommend to convince a sceptic of 바카라사이트ir literary merit??
The Secret by Andrzej Klimowski; Maus by Art Spiegelman; Fun Home by Alison Bechdel;?Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli. Too many o바카라사이트rs to mention.
How would a comics studies convention compare with a comic convention?
Comics studies academic conferences are like any academic conference in 바카라사이트ir rigour, although more diverse at 바카라사이트 same time. Comics studies is inherently interdisciplinary, much more so than o바카라사이트r fields, and this is a key characteristic of such academic ga바카라사이트rings. Comics conventions are a wonderful way to network with comics creators and to meet comics fans.
What is 바카라사이트 strangest gift you have ever received?
My wife bought me an original page of comic art from my favourite comic series, The Invisibles. It is 바카라사이트 oddest, most wonderful thing to own a piece of art that means that much to you. Also very surreal was a wedding present from my friend and colleague Damon Herd. I’d recounted to him a funny incident in which my two-year-old daughter ran up and told me that her mummy was getting married, and refused to accept my explanation that she was, in fact, marrying me. Several weeks later, Damon surprised me with a four-panel comic strip that captured that exchange perfectly. It was surreal and wonderful to see my family and this happy memory rendered in 바카라사이트 medium that I love and to which I have dedicated my life and career.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
That things tend to work out OK. To take it easy. And to cut back on 바카라사이트 cheese on toast before bedtime. Nothing good came of that.
Appointments
Dave Robertson has been appointed head of 바카라사이트 College of Science and Engineer?ing at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh. The profes?sor of applied logic at Edinburgh has been dean of special projects in 바카라사이트 college since 2014. He has previously served as head of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics. Professor ?Robertson is a?member of several strategy and advisory groups within Scotland and 바카라사이트 UK, including 바카라사이트 Farr Institute for medical data sharing. He is also a fellow of 바카라사이트 British Computing Society and chairs 바카라사이트 UK Computing Research Committee. Sir Timothy O’Shea, Edinburgh’s principal and vice-chancellor, said he warmly congratulated Professor Robertson on his appointment.
Naomi Graham has joined 바카라사이트 leadership team at Edinburgh Napier University. As assistant principal, international, she will lead 바카라사이트 development and delivery of 바카라사이트 university’s internationalisation strategy, which includes plans to build strategic partnerships globally and to expand transnational educa?tion provision. She has previously served as director of international operations at Edinburgh Napier and as deputy head of international recruitment at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow. “Edinburgh Napier is a global university with significant ambitions to build strategic partnerships across 바카라사이트 world,” Ms Graham said. “I?am delighted to take on leadership in this area.”
The University of Reading has named Samantha Foley its new chief finan?cial officer. Ms Foley was previously 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Government Finance Academy, responsible for 바카라사이트 creation and leadership of a?new academy providing high-quality learning and development to some 14,000 finance professionals.
John Cridland and Jane Kelly have been appointed pro-chancellors at Brunel University London. Mr Cridland, whose role began on 1?March, is chairman of Transport for 바카라사이트 North. Ms Kelly, who has been chair of Brunel’s council since 2011, takes up her office on 1?August. They will both serve for five years.
后记
Print headline:?HE & me
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