Lectures on Tap - "From Comics to Graphic Novels: The Politics of Genres"
Schedule
Wed Mar 11 2026 at 06:30 pm to 08:30 pm
UTC-05:00Location
West Loop | Chicago, IL
About this Event
đź“Ť Location: Exact address given in confirmation email
đź“š Lecture: "From Comics to Graphic Novels: The Politics of Genres"
🎤 Speaker: Dr. Keegan Lannon
Join us for an engaging evening with Dr. Keegan Lannon as he delves into the fascinating world of comic books and the politics of genre. In this presentation, Dr. Lannon will trace the origins of the American comic book, beginning in the early 1930s with Maxwell Gaines and Harry I. Wildenberg’s groundbreaking publication. Over the next two decades, comics evolved to include diverse genres such as romance, science fiction, westerns, and horror, yet they were all labeled simply as comics.
Dr. Lannon will discuss how the 1954 publication of Fredrick Wortham’s "Seduction of the Innocent" sparked a moral panic that led to censorship and the stigmatization of the medium. As a result, creators began employing terms like "comix" and "graphic novels" to rebrand their work in a bid to bypass the stigma attached to comic books. He argues that these attempts at rebranding are often elitist moves that serve to hierarchize the medium.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain fresh insights into the narrative structure of comics with the knowledgeable Dr. Keegan Lannon!
Get a drink, connect, and learn at Lectures on Tap! 🙌
Agenda
6:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat (open seating!), order food & drinks, and expect a bar line—arriving early is key.
6:55 PM – Host introduction
7:00 PM – Lecture begins
7:45 PM – Audience Q&A
8:00 PM – Have 1:1 time with the speaker, mingle with fellow guests, and order another round
8:30 PM – Wrap up.
Where is it happening?
West Loop, West Loop, Chicago, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 38.58
