Dr. Gemma Sou gave a presentation on using comics to communicate geographic research findings. She discussed how comics can represent different experiences and perspectives through fictionalized characters and storytelling. Sou explained her process for developing comics, which includes deciding what to communicate based on the audience, writing scripts, working iteratively with artists, and seeking feedback. Comics allow researchers to visualize alternative futures, histories, and intangible experiences. Sou argued that comics are an accessible way to engage different audiences and challenge stereotypes. The presentation concluded with a discussion of examples of geographic comics and their educational uses.

1. RMIT Classification: Trusted
Geography –
for comic effect
Geographical Association Conference
15th April 2023
Dr Gemma Sou
Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute
The University of Manchester
Alan Parkinson
King’s Ely Junior
GA Immediate Past President

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Today
A little about my research
Why comics
Deciding what to communicate
Writing the script
Printing and distribution

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Sou, G., Risha, A., Sims,
C., and Ziervogel, G
(2022). Everyday Stories of
Climate Chanhge.
Creating
worlds
‘from
below’ by
tuning into
elements of
research
sites not
previously
considered

5. RMIT Classification: Trusted
Sou, G., and Cei Douglas, J. (2019). After Maria: Everyday Recovery from Disaster
Representing intangible sensory experiences using
‘emanata’ and ‘word balloons’

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Sou, G., and Cei Douglas, J. (2019). After Maria: Everyday Recovery from Disaster
Going to hidden moments and places to create
more nuanced representations of people and their
lives

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Sou, G., Risha, A., Sims, C., and Ziervogel, G (2022). Everyday Stories of Climate Change.
Representing histories, memories and flashbacks
as well as speculative visions and dreams

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Visualizing alternative and still possible futures

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‘Truth-fiction spectrum’
or ‘Graphic truths’
Characters are fictionalised
Assemblage of shared lived experiences, temporalities,
and social formations and the viewpoints of the
researcher, participants and illustrator
It is not the intention to represent ‘reality’ in an
objective sense (Dix et al 2015).

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What to communicate
Who is your audience?
Other academics, students, industry, teachers,
general public, participants
The main findings that contribute to academic
debates? Findings that challenge popular
discourse and stereotypes?

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Choosing an
artist
Direct appointment or an open call
Roughly sketch a 1-page scene
Must appreciate the ‘language’ of
comics
Experience drawing diverse identities

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Writing the script

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Iterative process with
the illustrator - Make
sure the images (and not
text) drive the story

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Sou, G., and Cei Douglas, J. (2019). After Maria: Everyday Recovery from Disaster
Seek feedback from
participants if possible

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Printing and distribution

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e. gemma.sou@Manchester.ac.uk
w. www.gemmasou.com
t. @gemmasou
Thank you for
listening!

19. Alan Parkinson - Head of Geography, King’s Ely Junior
GA Immediate Past Present
©
1993
-
Bill
Watterson

20. Geography - for
comic effect
Using graphic novels in the
classroom
Alan Parkinson
Image: Tim Bird

21. Why use them?
Accessible
Draw in reluctant
readers
Visually interesting
Dual coding
Alternative
voices
Chunking text

22. https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-jj9ci-
d53544?utm_campaign=u_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=u_share
Starting to receive attention

23. https://poddtoppen.se/podcast/1196746426/ask-the-geographer/how-do-graphic-novels-help-understanding-of-
natural-disasters-dr-gemma-sou
RGS-IBG podcast / interview with Gemma

24. GeogPod: interview with John Lyon
https://geogpod.podbean.com/e/episode-59-gemma-sou-the-human-geography-of-the-climate-crisis/

25. After Maria - graphic novella
During lockdown, this was used as a resource
by me with my groups.
I built a page on the VLE with a link to the
comic download.
I created a question sheet to go along with the
comic and also shared with MFL colleagues.
https://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/hcri/after-maria/after-maria-eng-web.pdf
Also available in Spanish

26. Caribbean
Geography
Link
to
‘Windrush
Child’
work
we
do

27. The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/may/03/we-stood-in-shock-what-
happens-to-a-city-after-a-hurricane-a-cartoon-after-maria
Resource
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cQ_RxKQ2VUNIe6ZctNEshmOLEPDPsbTl
JODpjOcdo9o/edit?usp=sharing

28. Some further examples to seek out:
Tim Bird - https://www.timothybird.co.uk/

29. Psychogeography
“In my comics, I’m interested in exploring the history, mythology and
memories contained within the landscapes that surround me.”

30. Migration Stories
Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin
Illegal
Plot the story and the motivations.

31. Google Doodles - design task

32. PosNeg -
https://positivenegatives.org/about/education/
Positive Negative
‘North Star Fading’
Zoom comic

33. Life on the Move animation:
https://positivenegatives.org/story/life-on-the-
move/animation/

34. Escaping wars and waves

35. Antarctica
Sarah Airriess
The Worst Journey in the World
A decade of research and drawing
Polar exploration.

36. William Grill - ‘Shackleton’s Journey’ & activity book
https://williamgrill.co.uk/shackletons-journey

37. Everyday Geographies
Jiro Taniguchi - ‘The Walking Man’
A book in which nothing happens but
everything occurs. The Walking Man follows
a modern day Japanese business man as he
strolls at random through urban Japan – often
silent, usually alone – with his vivid dreams
that let time stand still.
Join him as he climbs a tree in bare feet, takes
time out to observe the birds, plays in the
puddles after the rain and returns a shell to
the sea.

38. A Fire Story - Brian Fies
Monday 9th October 2017
N. California wildfires
6200 homes destroyed
44 fatalities
Brian drew this as a strip on his
blog.
Personal tragedies

39. One small island - Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch
https://www.sutori.com/en/story/one-small-island--LFRnVQfkPzcFRq1hB76Dd87t
Macquarie Island, Australia - KS2 - Islands / Biomes / Management
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5
65678713997225
Macquarie Island lies in the Southern Ocean, between Antarctica and New Zealand. A speck of green in the vast, windswept sea, it is a haven for
many creatures that live above and below the waves. In One Small Island, Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch bring us the story of this remote and
precious World Heritage Site. Together they explore the island's unique geological beginnings, discovery, and degradation at the hands of humans,
and the battle to restore it today. This beautifully presented book leaves us with an important question: can Macquarie Island and places like it be
saved?

40. ‘Social realism’ - Mary, Mungo and Midge - John Ryan
https://televisionheaven.co.uk/reviews/mary-mungo-and-midge

41. Contemporary Britain - 1969 - Quotidian Geographies
A town is full of buildings.
Some tall, some short, some
wide and some narrow. The
buildings are flats and houses
and factories and shops.
They’re built in streets. The
streets have cars and buses
and lorries driving along
them. . . .
Do you live in a town?

42. Contemporary and raw - Side Eye - New Zealand
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/24-02-2023/the-side-eye-a-climate-change-reality-check

43. Or just because they’re beautiful…

45. Your ideas and thoughts…
What do you see as the main reasons for engaging with
resources of this kind?
What are your thoughts on this approach to disseminating
research?
What other research would you like to see produced in a similar
format?
Is this something that students could also get involved with?
Templates / Comic Life software / Apps to turn photos into
images

46. Questions?
@gemmasou
@GeoBlogs