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The third-year American Literature class ‘Contemporary Literatures of Violence’ enjoyed a class session with the comics artist, Joe Sacco, on Thursday 29 April. The class, devised by Dr Alice Kelly, a Lecturer in American Literature and American Studies, has read Joe Sacco’s Palestine, his award-winning graphic reportage about the Palestine-Israeli conflict, alongside other novels, graphic nonfiction and poetry, asking the question, ‘how does literature try to make sense of violence?’.

Sacco joined the class via Zoom from his home in Portland, Oregon, and answered questions from the students about his work, ranging from questions of journalistic integrity, to avoiding stereotyping while drawing. Sacco, credited as the pioneer of the genre of comics journalism, said he really enjoying engaging with the students. Kikin Christie, a student in the class, said: “That was really cool - I’ve never experienced anything like that while doing my degree. It was really great and a huge privilege to be able to speak to the author of a work that you’re writing an essay on”.

Dr Doug Haynes, Head of American Studies, commented: “It's wonderful when students can communicate directly with writers and artists; it brings academic work to life. Joe Sacco is a major figure. What a coup for Alice to bring him in to talk to an undergraduate class!”

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