Exhibit 'Rising Up: Depictions of Social Protest in Comics' opens March 12
SDSU University Library invites community to their newest exhibit's grand opening Tuesday, March 12 at 4 p.m.
The San Diego State University Library and the Center for Comic Studies are excited to unveil their newest exhibit: Rising Up: Depictions of Social Protest in Comics.
The exhibit features depictions of social justice protests in comics and graphic novels, along with wallpaper displays commenting on civil rights issues and encouraging voting. Visitors can also create their own miniature protest signs and either take them home or leave them for others to enjoy.
The exhibit will be in place through 2024 in the Special Collections area (first floor of Love Library) and available during library hours. The exhibit is adjacent to the Comics Corner, where visitors can peruse a selection of comics as well as a variety of scholarly works in Comics Studies.
Popular Culture Librarian and Center for Comic Studies Co-Director Pamela Jackson has been formulating this exhibit for more than a year and is thrilled to feature it during this election year.
“Protests and struggles for social progress have really ramped up again in recent years,” said Jackson. “We see protests in the news constantly. It’s my hope that the students, our main audience, will learn more about our long history of meaningful protest as a powerful way to lobby for social change and that they are also drawn to participate in broader civic action.”
Jackson notes only about half of young adults vote and she hopes that this will encourage SDSU students to take a more active role in deciding their future via the ballot box. To further that goal, information sheets explaining how to register to vote will be available.
Center for Comics Studies Co-Director and Distinguished Professor of History Elizabeth Pollard noted that, “this exhibit is central to the mission of the Comics and Social Justice President's Big Idea and that not only will our students here at SDSU benefit from seeing how comics can advocate for social justice but also teachers in our Summer Institute for K-12 teachers will be able to take back to their students nationwide the lessons that they learn about 'Rising Up.'"
Jackson said, “Comics are a powerful way to address social justice issues. Because they present information in both text and graphics, they have a special power to bring issues to life. Visual representations help people develop empathy and compassion and may aid in developing a deeper understanding of the issues. And that understanding sticks with people.”
The exhibit features seven themed cases of comics, each marked with a miniature protest sign. The cases are:
- Case 1: Respect Existence or Expect Resistance!
- Case 2: Hungry? Eat the Rich!
- Case 3: My Body My Choice
- Case 4: She Was Sleeping
- Case 5: Power to the People
- Case 6: Sounds of Silence
- Case 7: Keep the Earth Clean. It’s Not Uranus.
Library Dean Scott Walter noted the new exhibit sits at the intersection of two major library initiatives that have grown rapidly since 2020: the focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice across all library collections, and the commitment to strategic engagement with faculty colleagues in other colleges to invest in library collections, services, and programs that highlight and strengthen distinctive academic programs at SDSU, including Comic Studies.
Walter invites the SDSU community to “explore how comics and graphic novels have depicted protests, both historical and fictional, and be encouraged to exercise your own right to protest.”
IF YOU GO
SDSU University Library
Special Collections area (first floor of Love Library)
Tuesday, March 12 at 4 p.m.
