This week has seen a huge fracas over the Grand Prix d’Angouleme when the list of 30 nominees did not include a single woman. While no one has mentioned this, I can only imagine the number of minorities represented on that list as well. "The Grand Prix is a lifetime achievement award, and the winner is named president of the following year’s Angouleme International Comics Festival. In the event’s 43-year history, just one woman, Florence Cestac, has been awarded the Grand Prix."(1)
Franck Bondoux, executive officer of the Angouleme International Comics Festival, defended the decision by saying, "“Unfortunately, there are few women in the history of comics,” he said. “That’s the reality. Similarly, if you go to the Louvre, you will find few women artists.”(2)
To quote Clue, "it-it- the f - it -flam - flames. Flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl- heaving breaths. Heaving breaths... Heathing..."
Many people throughout the comic world and beyond have spoken out against this outrageous behavior. Groups are protesting and 1/3 of the authors who were nominated have withdrawn their names from the award. I believe there is now a move by the organization to include several women but people are calling for the award to be cancelled this year.
It's an amazing vicious cycle. Throughout history, women's contributions in art (and everything really) are devalued and thus forgotten. Then their supposed absence is a evidence of the lack of quality. It goes round and round. Oh the flames I see.
So several lists have come out this week about women comic book artists. Here's one:
25 Graphic Novels Written by Women, A Beginner's Guide
At the bottom of this article are some more names:
After the fracas...
I'm going to add my two cents to these lists since I've been most fortunate to interview several comic book artists for the project:
Sarah Becan is the creator of Sauceome, a great webcomic about food and body image. She also wrote the Complete Ouija Interviews and ShutEye. Check her out here: http://www.sarahbecan.com/
Marnie Galloway is the creator of the incredible trilogy In the Sound and the Seas along with other works. Check her out here: http://monkeyropepress.com/
Lyra Hill is the founder of the late Brain Frame, a performative comic series. She creates zines, films, and much more. Check out her work here: http://lyrahill.blogspot.com/
Lucy Knisley is mentioned on the list above but I can't stress enough how awesome her work is. Relish is one of my favorite books; it's a graphic novel of short stories about food and memory. Check her out here: http://www.lucyknisley.com/
Isabella Rotman writes important comics about social issues, such as sex, consent, and more. She wrote the wonderful informative You're So Sexy When You Aren't Transmitting STD's and Animal Sex. FInd out more about her work here: http://www.isabellarotman.com
These are just a few of many amazing artists in comics in Chicago.
That's all for now!
(1) http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2016/01/angouleme-grand-prixs-male-only-long-list-sparks-call-for-boycott/
(2) http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2016/01/nine-creators-withdraw-names-from-angouleme-grand-prix-list/
