[ecrea] Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics - Audiences and Readership: Deadline May 1, 2011

*Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics *

Special Issue Call for Papers

*Audiences and Readership*

*Final Deadline: 1 May*

At the Graphic Novels and Comics Conference 2010, a major issue 
identified by the plenary panel as crucial for future directions 
regarding comics research was that of audiences and readership. Martin 
Barker, who pioneered and championed comics research when it was 
unfashionable, reinforced this issue when reviewing the conference in 
the/ Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics/ noting, 'it is striking to 
me...that no-one is currently following through to ask any of the 
questions we can and should, about readers, collectors, reviewers, 
circuits of reception, or even the longer-term shifting public status of 
comics.' Whilst there has been some excellent work researching comics 
audiences and readership, this is currently, as Martin suggests, a 
largely neglected area. In summarising work in this area, Barker's works 
on ideology (1989) readers (1993, 1997) and censorship (1984) examine 
the ways audiences consume such texts. Gibson's work on female comics 
readers (2003a&b) demonstrates the ways comics influence identity 
construction and the transgressive reading practices of some female 
fans. She has also written on historical children's comic collecting in 
Britain (2008) and tentatively begun work on British manga audiences 
(2007). In addition, Wright's work on the development of the comics 
industry and distribution practices shows how audiences are influenced 
by but also influence comics creation and production (2001). However, as 
Martin suggested there is scope for many more sustained explorations of 
comics audiences and readership.

This issue aims to open up debates in comics audiences and readership. 
Accordingly we are looking for papers about (but not confined to) the 
following areas surrounding audiences and readership:

. Fandom, niche markets and subcultures

. Censorship

. Globalization, localities

. Readership.

Read the full call for papers for more information: 
_http://bit.ly/Audiences_