Diversity Comic Con: Panel Discussion: COVID-19’s Impact on the Comics Industry

Diversity Comic Con: Panel Discussion: COVID-19’s Impact on the Comics Industry

COVID-19 has impacted virtually every industry and the comics industry is no different. Panelists will discuss their experiences during the pandemic and what sorts of long-term changes they think the comics world will experience due to this period of upheaval. With Stanford Carpenter (Comic Scholar), Gina Gagliano (Random House Graphic), Andy Schmidt (Comic Experience) and John Siuntres (Word Balloon). Moderated by Heidi Macdonald (The Beat)

As part of its Civility Week, FIT hosted the Diversity Comic Con for a third year, and in 2020 it was completely online. The comic con features panel discussions, speed networking, drawing contest, cosplay challenge, a comic anthology an a virtual marketplace/exhibition.

While the medium of comic books has been around for almost a century, the presence of minorities—as both subjects and creators—has been sorely lacking. But times are changing, and the participation and visibility of multicultural art and stories are more crucial than ever.

More and more, the lines between print and screen media are blurring and merging as stories that were once the domain of comic books become the movies and television shows of today. Comic books are the beginning of visual storytelling.

Diversity Comic Con gives students an opportunity to be exposed to careers that are truly multidisciplinary while providing a venue to showcase their work to publishers, professionals, and the general public. This event gives them an invaluable experience and will widen their horizons.

This event is fully sponsored by a grant from the President’s Diversity Council.

Diversity Council

2020-10-17

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