MLitt in
COMICS STUDIES
The MLitt in Comics Studies is the only one of its kind in the UK, a one year course allowing students to examine comics and graphic novels in terms of genre, style, formal properties and history, while also providing, in various option modules, the opportunity to focus on the creative aspects of comics production.
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MLitt in
COMICS STUDIES The module offers the opportunity to study the following:
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the history of comics, and the formal properties of the medium
different genres, styles and categories of comics
writing for comics, with classes and workshops on scriptwriting skills
comics artwork and the creative process
a dissertation on any aspect of comics history (subject to acceptance of a proposal)
The academic work is also supported by a range of activities which will be of great interest to students enrolled on the course, such as conferences, talks and workshops with acclaimed comics creators, and comics professionals, scholars and researchers.
He is editor of the journal Studies in Comics (Intellect), and organises an annual comics conference in Dundee, which has attracted major speakers, such as Warren Ellis, Pat Mills, Alan Davis, Rian Hughes, and Alan Grant.
This course is delivered by Dr Chris Murray, who researches comics and graphic novels, and has published on superheroes and propaganda, comics and the gothic, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, and the relationship between British and American comics. He also teaches comics modules at undergraduate level and supervises postgraduate research into the medium.
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 extensive experience in animation, computer games and comic art, and who leads a course on comics at the Art College.
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Who is the course for? The Comics Studies MLitt has been developed for graduates who have an interest in comics and graphic novels, and who want to pursue this at postgraduate level. Comics and graphic novels are an important part of contemporary art, literature and popular culture, and comics scholarship is an expanding field. Those with an interest in the creative side of comics, either as a writer or artist, or both, will find the course very useful in terms of expanding their knowledge of the history of comics, and the artistic and literary potential of the medium. There will also be the opportunity to enhance practical skills related to the creation of comics, for those with abilities and interests in this direction.
Why study comics at Dundee? Dundee is one of the great powerhouses of comics production, not just in the UK, but internationally. The publisher DC Thomson is at the heart of the city, with its long running comics, The Beano and The Dandy, and a host of beloved characters, including Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan, the Bash Street Kids. This is where writers such as Grant Morrison, Pat Mills and John Wagner started their careers. Dundee is also home to a thriving computer gaming industry. The University of Dundee is one of the few Universities that has comics as part of the curriculum, with modules on this medium offered by the English Programme (School of Humanities), and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Dundee also hosts several comics events, such as exhibitions, workshops and two conferences (Dundee Comics Day and D-Con, a festival of Manga and Anime).
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MLitt in
COMICS STUDIES
To apply contact: enquiryhumanities@dundee.ac.uk School of Humanities University of Dundee Dundee, Scotland DD1 4HN Telephone: +44 (0)1382 388927 or 388625 Fax: +44 (0)1382 386794
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