This Graphic Narrative Symposium brings together enthusiasts of the graphic narrative form to discuss and celebrate its many manifestations and cross-cultural applications. It will include an interactive session with the acclaimed French-Vietnamese graphic novelist and author, Clément Baloup. Baloup’s prize-winning graphic novel corpus delves into themes of immigration, memory and memorial transmission and brings a unique perspective to the art of storytelling as enacted through the mobilisation of both image and word. These themes will feature more broadly throughout the presentations and workshops animated on the day by both graphic narrative creators and academics who use the form in both their teaching and research.

· Morning Session: Academic Papers & Roundtable (10:00am – 12:30pm)

This session follows a conference-style format, featuring four academic paper presentations by researchers working in comics studies. The session concludes with a roundtable discussion, encouraging exchange between presenters and attendees on emerging themes and research in the field.

Presenters (TBC):

1. 10-10:30: Penni Russon (Monash)- Australian context

2. 10:30-11: Mridula Nath Chakraborty (Monash)- Indian context

3. 11-11:30: Marina Buzzetti (Monash)- Italian context

4. 11:30-12: Stewart King (Monash)- Catalonian context

5. 12-12:30: Roundtable on teaching comics : Ronnie Scott (RMIT), Elisabeth MacFarlane (SCC), Véronique Duché, Sandrine Michel, Tess Do (SOLL)

· Afternoon Session: Artist Showcase & Workshop (1:30pm – 3:30pm)

In the afternoon, seven local comics artists and a Visiting Scholar will present their creative work and discuss their practices. This workshop-style session includes hands-on drawing activities and informal dialogue, enabling participants to engage directly with the creative process and explore contemporary approaches to comics-making.

Guest artists (TBC)

1. Bernard Caleo

2. Emilie Walsh

3. Bruce Mutard

4. Kim Lam

5. Emma Do

6. Mirranda Burton

7. Rachel Ang

Please contact Dr Tess Do at dot@unimelb.edu.au or alternatively the School of Languages and Linguistics at soll-info@unimelb.edu.au if you have any queries regarding this event.