Graphic Communities: Comics as Visual and Virtual Resources for Self and Collective Care

Graphic Communities: Comics as Visual and Virtual Resources for Self and Collective Care

Blog Article

This commentary discusses the ways in which print and Instagram-based comics are used to represent the lived experiences of mental illness.Beginning with a brief overview of mental health-focused comic Peelers strips and graphic memoirs and turning to a discussion of the mental illness comics of Instagram, the article outlines how comics are being used as platforms for self and collective care.Instead of prioritizing a visual/discourse analysis of each web comic, this piece focuses on the comment threads of each Instagram post and examines the conversations which develop amongst users.By doing so, this essay begins a critical discussion of the ways in which comics may be used as mental health resources.While grounded in a discussion of Covid-19-related increases to mental illness symptoms, this piece is also interested in how comics may be used as nail trimmer therapeutic supports in a post-pandemic world.