RESPECT University launches Comics for Change course
Melody (Mel) Basham, who has been with RESPECT University for only a few weeks, is the creator of the unique course Comics for Change. Her interest in social activism, education, and international development grew from her studies in Social Anthropology. Through the Comics for Change course, she is using her strong background as a cartoonist and animator to "encourage literacy, education, cultural exchange, and social activism through comics," as stated in the Comics for Change website's mission statement.
The program and materials used are modeled by World Comics Finland, World Comics India, and Charkha (a nonprofit group based in India). On the website for World Comics Finland, it states that "most any issue, idea or fact can be explained in a comic." As a result, it can be used for social change. . . which is what this course and the above organizations have sought to do.
One of the many benefits that comics can have when they are used to educate people is that students are able to acquire a variety of skills as well as educate others in the community. In addition to art instruction, they are also gaining skills in writing, reading, and understanding story structure all at the same time. Another benefit of the program is the Comics Exchange component that will involve refugee student telling their stories and ideas from their perspective. These comics will then be exchanged with non-refugee students providing a means of education on issues that concern refugees within their own country and globally. "All one needs is a paper and a pen but the messages conveyed can have huge ramifications," said Leif Packalen of World Comics Finland.
With the first few lessons in a Comics for Change distant course there is an introduction to comics as a form of communication, basic terminology, and the designing of characters. Each lesson is accompanied by an assignment and students will be encouraged to observe and draw from their environment. Each student will keep a drawing journal to serve as a source of visual reference for the final comic strip. Students do not need to have artistic talent, but through basic techniques anyone can learn to communicate visually. Technical skills will include drawing basics, shading, camera angles, perspective, and inking. Through these basic techniques students will be able to convey their experiences and thoughts which is empowering and educational not only for themselves, but for those who will be viewing their work as well.
In the course students are encouraged to not only express their own views, but to also address problems in their community and suggest ways to alleviate or solve those problems. For instance, at the end of the course students are asked to discuss the problems presented in their comic strip and to suggest ways that they can implement a comic campaign to solve the problem.
Once the work is completed there are many outlets in which students can display and get their messages heard. They can participate in the cultural exchange component or put on an art exhibit. They can make wall posters, publish them in a booklet or newsletter, or even put them on t-shirts. Students are encouraged to be involved in how they would like their work to be distributed as part of their cartoon campaign.
Comics for Change is extremely unique in its design and its ability to allow students to learn a variety of skills by participating in the course. The mutual education between the refugee students, their communities, and non-refugee correspondents through the course exemplifies creative activism. Mel states that "through the power of art and words we can inspire to learn more about ourselves and others; to remind us who we are, and that we are not alone."
The below is a sample of what appears in the first lesson.
