Join Doctor R. Benedito Ferrão as he delves into the world of graphic novels, comics and zines, exploring their ability to challenge traditional narrative styles through the power of combining illustration and words. With reference to his own works, Dr Ferrão interrogates the potential of comic books to represent geographic-specific issues such as those seen in Goa, India, where high levels of tourism impact the area's postcolonial identity. In teaching attendees how to understand and craft their own illustrative narratives, Dr Ferrão poses that art, such as comics, can be a vehicle for resistance and encourage more innovative storytelling.
Doctor Ferrão is an Assistant Professor of English and Asian & Pacific Islander American Studies at the College of William & Mary (Virginia, USA). He has been the recipient of fellowships from the Fulbright, Mellon, Endeavour, and Rotary programs, the Bayreuth Academy of Advanced African Studies, and the American Institute of Indian Studies. He is the co-author of two graphic narratives: The Destination is the Journey (2017) with Vamona Navelcar and The Uninvited Host: Goa and the Parties not Meant for its People (2023) with Angela Ferrão and Maria Vanessa de Sa.