Dundee University is launching the UK’s first degree programme in comic studies and where more appropriate than the city that is home to The Beano and The Dandy?
Courier publisher DC Thomson is also responsible for iconic comic titles such as Commando, Starblazer and Bunty and legendary characters such as Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan, the Bash Street Kids, Oor Wullie, and the Broons were born in the city.
Now the university’s English department is to offer the new postgraduate Masters in Comic Studies degree, which is being led by Dr Chris Murray, one of the UK’s foremost authorities on the subject and editor of the journal Studies In Comics.
The university says comics scholarship is an expanding field, reflecting the increasing stature of comics as an important facet of contemporary art, literature and popular culture. The MLitt in Comic Studies programme, delivered on a one-year full-time or two-year part-time basis, is expected to appeal to local, national and international graduates with an interest in pursuing academic careers, or working in the media, the creative industries or publishing.
“This is a very exciting time for comics scholarship, and I am delighted to be able to offer this postgraduate course on comics,” said Dr Murray. “This is a unique opportunity to give this important medium the attention it deserves, and to allow those with an interest in comics to study it in detail.
“I hope that this course will help forge the next generation of comics scholars, and may even help some students with creative ambitions to find their way into the highly-competitive comics industry.”
One of the modules on offer will look at autobiographical comics, one of the fastest growing and critically acclaimed fields of comics production in the last 20 years, while another will look at the relationship between international comics cultures, from Scottish publications, and the wider British context, to French, Russian, American, Japanese and Chinese comics.
The creative elements of the course will be delivered by Phillip Vaughan, a lecturer in graphic design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, who has a great deal of experience in animation, computer game design and comic art.
Dr Murray said, “As well as studying different genres, styles and uses of comics, there will be a focus on writing for comics, with classes and workshops on scriptwriting skills as well as on artwork and the creative process.
“A range of activities of interest to students, such as conferences, talks and workshops featuring some of the most influential figures from the comics industry, and worldwide experts on comics and graphic novels, will support the academic work.”
He added, “There will be practical advice on publishing and developing a career as a comics scholar, writer or artist, and we hope to arrange work placements for students.
“Comics and graphic novels are becoming an increasingly important form of literature, art and field of study, and it is our intention that our graduates are at the forefront either as researchers, writers, artists or filling other roles within the industry.”