Alter egos: An exploration of the perspectives and identities of science comic creators

Collver, Jordan; Weitkamp, Emma

Abstract

© 2018 The Author(s). While academic interest in science comics has been growing in recent years, the creators of these materials remain understudied. This research aimed to explore the experiences and views of science comic creators through the lens of science communication. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 science comic creators. Interviewees felt that the visual, narrative, permanent, and approachable qualities of comics made them particularly adept at explaining science and bringing it to new audiences. Science comic creators often had complex identities, occupying an ambiguous territory between 'science' and 'art', but were otherwise unconcerned with strict definitions. They emphasised the importance of balance between entertaining and informing, striving to create an engaging visual narrative without overcrowding it with facts or compromising scientific accuracy. This balancing act, and how they negotiate it, sheds light on what it means to be a science communicator operating in the space between entertainment and information/education.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jan 16, 2018
• Publication Date: Jan 16, 2018
• Deposit Date: Sep 29, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 25, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Science Communication
• Electronic ISSN: 1824-2049
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-22
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22323/2.17010201
• Keywords: science and arts, science comics, science communication
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/873584
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.22323/2.17010201
• Contract Date: Sep 29, 2017