Jo and Cookie, superhero team extraordinaire grabbed their masks, put on their spandex to embark on an adventure through time and space. Luckily, that adventure was through the pages of comic books. Going as early as medieval times and Bibles (yes, some will argue that they were the first comic books, especially with illustrations) and now to the brilliant saturated comic climate, this is an exhibition Geek’s don’t want to miss out on.
Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK is an exhibition charting the history and development of the graphic novel in society. The boasts the largest display of both mainstream and underground comics and can only be found at The British Library until August 9th
Within the exhibit .the work has been divided by themes; Mischief and Mayhem, To See Ourselves, Politics: Power and the People, Let's talk About Sex, Hero with a Thousand Faces and Breakdowns: The Outer Limits of Comics. Each section displays works that have explored the host theme and in many cases pushed the boundaries of understanding. Here is what the ladies thought of the wonderful exhibition.
Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK is an exhibition charting the history and development of the graphic novel in society. The boasts the largest display of both mainstream and underground comics and can only be found at The British Library until August 9th
Within the exhibit .the work has been divided by themes; Mischief and Mayhem, To See Ourselves, Politics: Power and the People, Let's talk About Sex, Hero with a Thousand Faces and Breakdowns: The Outer Limits of Comics. Each section displays works that have explored the host theme and in many cases pushed the boundaries of understanding. Here is what the ladies thought of the wonderful exhibition.
Click for Source What Jo Thinks
What makes this exhibit stand out from your run of the mill comics event is its diversity. It’s easy to think of comics in just their standard published format but Comics Unmasked really embraces the development of the graphic novel. From newspaper clippings to early illustrated bibes there is such a wide selection of work to view.
The exhibit also embraces the underground as well as the more main-stream work. Classics such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Watchmen and Kick-Ass are displayed along side early Punch and Judy illustrations.
Across the exhibit one thing is reinforced, the political power of the graphic novel. Comics have long since been used to explore and reiterate injustice, inequality and intolerance. Viewed early on as a unsophisticated form of entertainment comics could often operate under the radar. Easily distributed they possed a freedom that at times is seized from media and Literature.
My personal highlight of the exhibit was an early Jack the Ripper newspaper illustration. The drawings of the unknown killer helped create his persona of a deadly gentlemen calling. The newspaper images include police finding a new Ripper victim as well as images of a clocked dark figure.
A great show that’s worth checking out for fans of comics as well as lovers of art and culture.
What makes this exhibit stand out from your run of the mill comics event is its diversity. It’s easy to think of comics in just their standard published format but Comics Unmasked really embraces the development of the graphic novel. From newspaper clippings to early illustrated bibes there is such a wide selection of work to view.
The exhibit also embraces the underground as well as the more main-stream work. Classics such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Watchmen and Kick-Ass are displayed along side early Punch and Judy illustrations.
Across the exhibit one thing is reinforced, the political power of the graphic novel. Comics have long since been used to explore and reiterate injustice, inequality and intolerance. Viewed early on as a unsophisticated form of entertainment comics could often operate under the radar. Easily distributed they possed a freedom that at times is seized from media and Literature.
My personal highlight of the exhibit was an early Jack the Ripper newspaper illustration. The drawings of the unknown killer helped create his persona of a deadly gentlemen calling. The newspaper images include police finding a new Ripper victim as well as images of a clocked dark figure.
A great show that’s worth checking out for fans of comics as well as lovers of art and culture.
Click for Source What Cookie Thought
Not to harp on the same train of thought but the parts of the exhibition I found interesting were definitely the Jack the Ripper pieces. The original Victorian collection of illustrations of the brutal murders, the bodies and satire on the police investigation were eye opening parts of the exhibition. It’s fascinating to see some of the English jokes and political condemning by newspapers that we still in (although some newspapers are better than the others.) Maybe it’s this fascination or maybe my personal love for Victorian crime and punishment but these are truly captivating. Juxtapose this against the Alan Moore theory based graphic novel From Hell that was freely available to read on iPadesque machines and it was like delving into a bag of my morbid pleasures (which added gore too from a specific section.)
On top of this, I found that the controversy that happened with comics was intriguing especially when it came to race and gender. Though now we can poke fun at comics that were highly misogynistic, including Andy Capp who used to beat his wife weekly and it was laughed and accepted. Things may be different but there is still a lot of work to be done, especially when you consider that people still argue about casting choices or religious and race representation in their comic art (I know, I’ve read some shocking status.)
If you are anyway inclined for geeky this is the exhibit for you. It is extremely informative and important for your education on graphics, superheroes and more. Turn the page and dig a little deeper.
Not to harp on the same train of thought but the parts of the exhibition I found interesting were definitely the Jack the Ripper pieces. The original Victorian collection of illustrations of the brutal murders, the bodies and satire on the police investigation were eye opening parts of the exhibition. It’s fascinating to see some of the English jokes and political condemning by newspapers that we still in (although some newspapers are better than the others.) Maybe it’s this fascination or maybe my personal love for Victorian crime and punishment but these are truly captivating. Juxtapose this against the Alan Moore theory based graphic novel From Hell that was freely available to read on iPadesque machines and it was like delving into a bag of my morbid pleasures (which added gore too from a specific section.)
On top of this, I found that the controversy that happened with comics was intriguing especially when it came to race and gender. Though now we can poke fun at comics that were highly misogynistic, including Andy Capp who used to beat his wife weekly and it was laughed and accepted. Things may be different but there is still a lot of work to be done, especially when you consider that people still argue about casting choices or religious and race representation in their comic art (I know, I’ve read some shocking status.)
If you are anyway inclined for geeky this is the exhibit for you. It is extremely informative and important for your education on graphics, superheroes and more. Turn the page and dig a little deeper.
RSS Feed
