ISBN-13
9781736233719ISBN-10
1736233718Language
EnglishResearch statement
Background
Throughout his life, Anthropologist Joseph Campbell sought to understand the reasons why myths are so fundamental to human existence. He defined the concept of myth differently at different points of his life, from “the search for meaning” to “the experience of meaning”, to “the experience of life” (Campbell & Moyers, 2011, p. 5). To Campbell, then, myths not only gave the reader/listener access to existential ‘truths’ but allowed them to engage more deeply with life itself. Philosopher Alasdair Macintyre (2013) argues that fairy tales, one form of myth, are not an escape from reality, but a way for young people to develop thier identity and values.
Contribution
After several years spent teaching and investigating the potential for comics to engaging young readers from around the world (Jackson, Toniolo and Bitz, 2016), I conceived of, and wrote, this graphic novel. In 'Godlings', I seek to address some of the social and personal issues that these young people struggled with. Roland Barthes has argued that the fundamental character of a myth is that it can be appropriated (Barthes, 2014). The lead characters of 'Godlings' are gods and goddesses, appropriated from the texts of antiquity, who face their own personal challenges, which they must overcome to stop the hoards of the underworld from enslaving humanity.
Significance
'Godlings and the Gates of Chaos' was published by Magnetic Force LLC in 2022, and is available for purchase internationally. It contains character profiles, which introduce readers to each of the protagonists, and make of of their internal struggles clear to potential readers. Since its release, 'Godlings' has received positive views by readers and critics, as well as educators, such as the following: 'High level vocabulary and real issues of self-doubt, identity, team work, adversity… and more.' - Tim Smyth, author of Teaching with Comics in the classroom. Critic J.B. Spins suggests, '... the breadth of historical sources helps set it apart'.Publication classification
JO3 Original Creative Works – Textual WorkScale
NTRO MajorPublisher
Magnetic ForcePlace of publication
Burbank, Calif.
