Dr. Lien Fan Shen will share the political contexts, analytical frameworks, and artistic practices which shape her award-winning comic books and academic inquiry into gender identity, digital culture, and creative expression over three masterclasses. The series is free of charge, with all texts and art supplies provided, and welcomes students from all disciplines. While each session can be taken separately (N.B. pre-requisites for Masterclass III), active participation in all three masterclasses and the final residency exhibition (on Monday 30 June 2014) will be recognised with 1 EC granted by the Leiden University Honours Academy.
Please register your interest before 10 May 2014 at the very latest, after which you will receive a full syllabus. If you have any questions, do contact Dr. Cissie Fu.
Please register your interest before 10 May 2014 at the very latest, after which you will receive a full syllabus. If you have any questions, do contact Dr. Cissie Fu.
Masterclass I: Localising lesbian culture in Taiwan
Wednesday 4 June 2014, 10:00 - 13:00 @ Leiden Honours Academy
Queer scholars have questioned Western-centric approaches to sexuality and identities, as well as taken on projects to re-engage with local perspectives in the field of queer studies. Functioning as a critical reflection of white Euro-American dominance in queer studies, this masterclass will examine the representation of female masculinity in mass media by contextualising local lesbian culture through analyses of the history, society, and gender politics in Taiwan. This session will also include video documentations of interviews with butch lesbians in Taiwan to examine their struggles with gender identity within their wider communities, their views about masculinity, and their practices of reinventing their body images. The ultimate aim of this seminar is to explore local perspectives of female masculinity in order to challenge gender normalisation in Taiwan.
Learning objectives:
Learning objectives:
- Develop a critical understanding of the historical, cultural, and social contexts of sexuality and gender in Taiwan.
- Analyse media representations of female masculinity in Taiwan.
- Recognise local perspectives and contrast them with global views of lesbian and gay culture.
- Reflect on current Western-centric approaches to queer studies.
Masterclass II: Connecting gender politics with anime and manga practice
Wednesday 11 June 2014, 10:00 - 13:00 @ Leiden Honours Academy
This masterclass combines lecture, studio activity, critique, discussion, reading, and writing to provide participants with creative tools to examine gender politics with their own voices. Continuing the critical analysis and reflection from the first masterclass, this workshop aims to help participants advance their visual literacy through anime and manga practice, including story development, character design, storyboarding, and thumbnail/layout development. Participants will come to grips with the vocabularies of manga and anime, such as manga symbols, icons, expressions, and panel/shot transition; by exercising these visual elements, they will explore their own styles of storytelling. Participants will be required to create either an anime storyboard or a manga thumbnail that investigates issues of sexuality and gender identities in relation to their own socio-cultural contexts.
Learning objectives:
Learning objectives:
- Develop an understanding of visual elements and storytelling styles in manga and anime.
- Articulate the fundamental principles and processes of manga and anime production.
- Demonstrate ability to present critical views through creating animation storyboards and/or manga thumbnails.
- Demonstrate ability to utilise creative skills in manga and anime practices.
Masterclass III: Creating manga
Wednesday 18 June 2014, 10:00 - 13:00 @ Leiden Honours Academy
Japanese manga often presents in-depth storytelling, various styles of illustrations, and dynamic creative processes. This hands-on masterclass aims to develop participants' skills and techniques in the creation of Japanese-style manga by experimenting with a variety of drawing techniques, media, and tools in computer applications, thus advancing participants' understanding of the principles of manga art and its production process. Participants will create an eight-page manga work for the final residency exhibition (on Monday 30 June 2014). Prior experience in storyboarding and/or manga thumbnail development is highly encouraged, and so participation in Masterclass II is a pre-requisite for this final masterclass.
Learning objectives:
Learning objectives:
- Advance participants' understanding of principles of design and layout, as well as media and formats.
- Demonstrate ability to apply learned techniques to a specific aesthetic intent.
- Advance participants' knowledge of manga art and related issues of representation, illusion, and meaning.
- Develop a personal voice and style through manga storytelling.