O nce more I feel inclined to write something about recovering time, focus and agency for ourselves. The very act of writing, and of writing something here , is a key part of that need. Writing, not an email, not a text message, not work notes, not a post or comment on other social media, but taking the time to write, just because, as an attempt to make time and reconsider things.
I am looking forward to returning, many years later, to my beloved UEA Norwich (where I did my master’s more than two decades ago) to attend this year’s International Graphic Novels and Comics Conference, with the theme of ‘Comics & Technologies’. The schedule (on-line and in-person) and the book of abstracts are now available at the conference website.
Honoured to be a co-director of this programme along Elinor Carmi. This new MSc will provide students with the practical research skills and knowledge to critically understand and ethically assess how data is used across a multitude of industries.
A note on the personal significance of collecting and listening to records, comparing it to meditation. I use Walter Benjamin’s concept of “erfahrung” to argue for the unique experience afforded by physical music formats. Finally, I share a mix of vinyl records.
On how our constant connectivity demands a particular way of existing.
Some 12″s recorded in sequence in one go (human errors and all) to see January off.
Eat Out to Help Out reversed social distancing guidance and contributed to a second Covid wave. Hate to say we told you so.
Where I write, being día de muertos, about my copies of Rulfo’s El llano en llamas and Pedro Páramo.
In memoriam Alan Grant, Norm Breyfogle, Adrienne Roy, Albert De Guzman, Dennis O’Neil and George Cordeiro. I haven’t written here in a while, but it’s that time of the year. It’s also been a year since we moved to a house next to a Victorian cemetery. Before the clocks change, this week has had very dark mornings, and later in the day the light in the cemetery has been really beautiful.
Webcomics/hypertext scholars! There’s still time to submit. See you in Rome or online?