art, from the Internet

L.A. Artist Merges Comics, Superheroes, Modern Judaism, and Women

Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik's"Tree of Mothers and Daughters
Detail from Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik’s”Tree of Mothers and Daughters,” 2015. The artwork is on view at exhibition “Women of Valor.”

Last month, Shana Nys Dambrot wrote a piece for the Artbound section of KCET’s website, spotlighting the work of Southern California artist Isaac Brynjegard-Bialik. Dambrot explores his latest work, a show for the National Council of Jewish Women,  and its incorporation of the superheroic with Jewish moral responsibility via papercut techniques:

The thing about superheroes is that they are a way for us regular folks to imagine being better — to imagine being strong enough to help others and fix the world, as well as being dedicated enough to understand how important it is to use our powers for good.

Currently a teaching fellow at American Jewish University’s Dream Lab, Brynjegard-Bialik feels, “Comic superheroes exist outside of the ‘natural’ world. Be they visitors from other planets, or people whose powers stem from strange scientific accidents; they have weaknesses and flaws, and their struggles are often a metaphor for the human experience.”

His “Women of Valor” show concluded November 30th but its catalog can still be viewed online through his site.

from the Internet

Panels Challenges Readers: Engage Comics About Other Religions

Over at Panels this week, writer Andi Miller contributed to their “Panels 2015 Read Harder Challenge” by tackling comics and religion (an intersection we at Sacred and Sequential, of course, appreciate):

The marriage of text and image does magical things with all sorts of topics, but when creators tackle religion, we have an opportunity to read some of the most enlightening, affecting stories around.

In addition to recommending a number of high-quality titles (e.g. Sandman, The Rabbi’s Cat, etc.), Miller also steers readers to Graven Images: Religion in Comic Books and Graphic Novels, edited by S&S’s own A. David Lewis and Christine Hoff Kraemer.

academic, events

Join Sacred & Sequential’s Mini-Meet-Up at #AARSBL15 in Atlanta!

AtlantaSkyline_SN-smallWith the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) meeting in Atlanta this coming week, Sacred & Sequential is taking the opportunity to hold a small meet-and-greet on Sunday, November 22nd at approximately 9am for all interested parties. This open meet-up is meant both to give current members the opportunity to socialize live and in person and to serve as a casual space for any potential members to come introduce themselves or ask questions.

Aloft Atlanta Downtown

The Sacred & Sequential Mini-Meet-Up will run for no more than an hour in the main lobby of the Aloft Atlanta Downtown, 300 Spring St NW. Food will be available for purchase, and coffee is complimentary. Come say hello!

 

academic, from the Internet

The Marriage of Theology and Graphic Novels

Earlier in the year, the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s Rev. Derek R. Davenport proposed a rather intriguing hypothesis: that graphic novels were ideal for theology. He admits that it’s not the most intuitive or necessarily comfortable fit — but it’s a text-and-medium marriage that was meant to be.

As people of faith, we don’t know what to do with art. We surround ourselves with it, invest huge sums of time and money creating it, and then we ignore it.

[…] So let’s do a thought experiment.

Imagine that there was an art form specifically created to address the issue of our relationship with God. Imagine that it was created apart from official church ties, allowing it to maintain freedom from iconoclastic tendencies. Imagine that it could integrate multiple genres like drawing, painting, poetry and literature. Imagine that it had the breadth to explore even questions that some might consider inappropriate or offensive.

This is the graphic novel.

The Reverend is quick to point out that it’s not a direct correlation: not all graphic novels are engaged in theology nor are all graphic novels that could be engaged in theology of high quality. But, nevertheless, the relationship is there (and he nicely tips his hat to S&S at the same time).

Read more of Reverend Davenport’s work on religious symbols and symbology here.

contributors, reviews

Who Gods the God/Men?, Part II (Or, Prepare Ye the Way of the Rao)

WARNING: This is a spoiler concerning JLA: Justice League of America #2, just out this past July from DC Comics.

jla2aSo, immediately on the heels of JLA: Justice League of America #1‘s last-page surprise that Superman’s Kryptonian god Rao has come to Earth, issue #2 provides a full look at the supposed divinity and offers his directives.

“Prepare the way for me, Kal-El. Tell the people of your world who I am.”

Rao sounds much like the voice of the Abrahamic God as chronicled in such places as Mark 1:2-3: “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘Behold , I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.”‘”

In that case, then, Superman/Kal-El is Rao’s John the Baptist (or, depending on your reading of the scripture, perhaps Isaiah). At the same time, if Rao is going to speak through Superman with his “way,” then Kal-El could have a (thoroughly un-Islamic) Mohammed-like role.

It could also make Kal-El Moses, depending on one’s translation of Exodus 3:13-14, namely: “Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” Now they may say to me, “What is His name?” What shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”‘” And a number of writers would be thrilled to have Superman represent Moses instead of Jesus. 

Continue reading Who Gods the God/Men?, Part II (Or, Prepare Ye the Way of the Rao) →

@ the intersection of religion and comics: Graphic Religion