Why does it have to be gay? Queer webcomics and their political potential
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2023-06-15
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en
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This thesis set out to answer the research question: How do webcomics representing LGBTQ+ issues address them in a distinct way from printed comics in a way that affects their relation to political activism of the LGBTQ+ minority within the United States? I argued that webcomics, an alternative branch of comics published online often targeting specific subcultures, are a distinct medium for comics, especially regarding queer political activism. Through an exploration of literature from both comic and queer studies and the examination of two queer webcomics, Serious Trans Vibes (Labelle 2023) and Magical Boy (Kao 2022), Through these examinations, I found that there are aspects in which queer printed and queer webcomics overlap regarding political activism, namely the political nature of queer representation itself and comics’ usage of closure to make the reader relate their reading experience to reality. However, webcomics are distinct in certain other characteristics that impact their political activism as well, namely the freedom that comes with self-publication, the accessibility from cheap production, and the diverse creators wanting to create diverse narratives, which could also be found within the underground movement. Moreover, the digital space gives webcomics a much larger reach than printed comics and creates an integrated community where readers can critically engage with the work. Overall, there are reasons to conclude that queer webcomics differ from printed comics in such a way that it impacts their relationship to political activism.
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