15th Annual Comics and Popular Arts Conference
FRIDAY
Fri 04:00 pm: Happy Together: TTRPG Actual Play Shows and Euphoria in Community Building
Location: Augusta 3 Westin(Length: 1 Hour)
Description: Grey Mangan of Univ Tennessee-Knoxville presents research on TTRPG actual play shows and podcasts, examining why this genre, which defies so many expectations of modern media, has been so successful. Using affect theory and fan studies, Mangan explains this success via the euphoria of togetherness.
Moderator: Daniel Amrhein (Independent Scholar)
SATURDAY
Sat 05:30 pm: Language and Identity
Location: Chastain I-J Westin(Length: 1 Hour)
Description: Scholars analyze the intersection of language, culture, nationality, race, and identity in superhero and independent comics, looking at how linguistic and representational choices help craft narratives, mark identities, and make meaning.
Panelists: William Norris (Florida Atlantic University) & Donna Tong (Fu Jen Catholic University)
Moderator: Matthew Brown (UT Dallas/Southern Illinois University) or Johnathan Flowers
Sat 07:00 pm: From the Bigtop to the Museum: Critical Studies in Comics
Location: Chastain I-J Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
Description: Comics historians explore the historical influences on and contexts for the creation of comic books, specifically the influence of circus performers on “Golden Age” superheroes.
Presenters: Madeline Steiner (University of South Carolina)
Moderator: Matthew Brown (UT Dallas/Southern Illinois University)
SUNDAY
Sun 10:00: Comics Storytelling Across Media
Location: Chastain I-J Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
Description: Superhero comics have driven storytelling across multiple media, including animation, television, film, and video games. Comics scholars look at how these narratives are adapted across multiple media.
Presenters: Margaret Ann Robbins (Mount Vernon School) & Anthony Dannar (Georgia State University)
Moderator: Richard Scott Nokes (Troy University)
Sun 01:00 pm: Social, Political, and Judicial Issues in Marvel TV
Location: M301 Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)
Description: Academics share different perspectives on how Marvel explores contemporary social issues on both their films and streaming platforms.
Presenters: Amit Gupta (Independent Scholar) & Tiernan Cole (Independent Scholar)
Moderator: Daniel Amrhein (Independent Scholar)
Sun 02:30 pm: Queer History and Theory in Comics
Location: Chastain I-J Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
Description: Comics scholars explore the use of graphic narratives in both comix zines and mainstream superhero comics to document queer histories and explore the queer imagination.
Presenters: Rachael Ryerson (Eastern Illinois University) & Kyler Campbell (Charleston Southern University)
Moderator: Jillian Browning (University of Alabama-Birmingham)
Sun 04:00 pm: Issues of Diversity in Hamilton and Latinx comics/graphic novels
Location: Vinings Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Description: Scholars discuss contemporary issues related to the insection of theater, hip-hop, and Broadway as well as the intersection of spirituality, race, and culture in comics/graphic novels.
Presenters: Courtney Bliss (Bowling Green State University) & Gabrielle Lyle (Texas A&M University)
Moderators: Jillian Browning (University of Alabama-Birmingham) & Erin Gordon (Art Institute of Chicago)
Title: CPAC Board Meeting
Description: Organization meeting of the executive board
Time: Sun 05:30 pm
Location: Vinings Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
The Comics and Popular Arts Conference (CPAC) is an annual academic conference for the studies of comics and the popular arts, including science/speculative fiction and fantasy literature, film, and other media, comic books, manga, graphic novels, anime, gaming, etc. CPAC presentations are peer reviewed, based in scholarly research.
CPAC Coordinating Board:
- Kari Neely (Middle Tennessee State University) – Coordinator and Program Chair
- Johnathan Flowers (California State University, Northridge) – Co-coordinator
- Matthew J. Brown (University of Texas at Dallas) – Founder, Program Co-Chair
- Richard Scott Nokes (Troy University), Program Co-Chair
- Daniel Amrhein (Independent Scholar)
- Jillian Marie Browning (University of Alabama, Birmingham)
- Erin Gordon (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Vickie Navarra (Georgia State University)
- Damien Williams (Virginia Tech)
Keep an eye on our website and social media for our Call for Papers for CPAC 2023!
CPAC takes place at DragonCon each year thanks to the generosity of the DragonCon track heads and other organizers. CPAC is not affiliated with the DragonCon organization. CPAC is an all-volunteer group aimed at bringing peer-reviewed academic content to DragonCon. It is supported by the Center for Values in Medicine, Science, and Technology at the University of Texas at Dallas. We hope you enjoy our programming! Please ask us how to get involved.