Join us for a free event featuring two incredible local comics scholars: Nancy Pedri, and Daniel Peretti! These two presentations bring comics into the world with analysis, context, and a whole lot of passion.

In Superman in Myth and Folklore, Daniel Peretti explores the meaning of folklore inspired by popular culture, focusing not on the Man of Steel’s origins but on the culture he has helped create. Superman provides a way to approach fundamental questions of human nature, a means of exploring humanity’s relationship with divinity, an exemplar for debate about the type of hero society needs, and an articulation of the tension between the individual and the community.

Comics, Medicine, and Fostering Care: Sharing stories about illness can bring listeners to a deeper understanding of what it’s like to face the complex and challenges of illness. It can also enhance our ability to care for the ill person. When that sharing happens in the form of a comic book, it can intensify the “listening” experience, reach a broader audience, and help break down some of the stigma and false beliefs surrounding illness. Nancy Pedri will draw many examples from works of graphic medicine – comics about medicine, healthcare, and/or illness – to illustrate some of the amazing storytelling techniques creators use to express personal experiences of illness, making a case for how these works can change how we understand illness and practice care.

This event is best for adults and teens 16+