Columbia University Posts Video from COMIC NEW YORK: A SYMPOSIUM

by Betsy Gomez

I don’t know about the rest of you, but as a West Coast gal, I was pretty bereft that I couldn’t attend Comic New York: A Symposium, the two-day event that brought together comics creators and academics to discuss American comics and the role New York City played in their establishment. I love New York and would have loved the chance to see CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein, CBLDF founder Denis Kitchen, and CBLDF board member Paul Levitz share their takes on comics and the city that molded them.

I got a good piece of news this week, though: The nice folks at Columbia University have uploaded videos of the programming at the symposium!

First, let’s take a look at “Political New York,” the panel featuring Kitchen, Peter Kuper (Speechless), Sabrina Jones (Girltalk), and John Carey. It was moderated by David Hajdu, author of The Ten-Cent Plague. Hajdu started the program by asking the panelists why they think comics are suited (or ill-suited) to the topic of politics:

Brownstein joined Bill Griffith (Zippy the Pinhead), R. Sikoryak (Masterpiece Comics), Julia Wertz (Museum of Mistakes), and moderator Gene Kannenberg, Jr., for “Alternative New York.” During the panel, he shared his prodigious knowledge about underground comix:

Finally, Levitz joined educators Jonathan W. Gray and NC Christopher Couch and moderator Jeremy Dauber for the last program of the symposium: “Comic New York and the Academy.” They discussed the use of comics in the classroom and their interests as educators:

You can view video of all of the programs from Comic New York here. I think the organizers, panelists, and Columbia University all deserve a huge hand for putting this unique event together.

I hope you enjoy the videos as much as I have! Thank goodness it’s Friday, because I’m feeling the need to watch these amazing videos again…don’t tell the boss!

Betsy Gomez is the Web Editor for CBLDF.