How did you end up in Amsterdam?
“I come from Mississippi. Almost everyone I knew stayed in the South, but I went to New York where I studied English Literature and Media Studies. I got my master’s degree in British and American literature with a graduation project on disability studies.
“Although I found the academic world very interesting, I decided to go and work at a large publishing house. But I soon realised that it wasn’t for me and I wanted to go back to university. Around that time, Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis was a big hit. It’s a graphic novel in which the author tells her personal story about Iran. I was fascinated by comics from an early age, and I later became interested in researching this medium academically.
“I wanted something new and interdisciplinary, working with comics, thinking about art, media, literature and politics. I felt I had to go to Europe for that. After a few conversations with a professor at the Universiteit van Amsterdam, much to my surprise, I was able to start my PhD there almost immediately.”
Can you tell us about your research?
“My research area is called Graphic Medicine, which refers to the intersection between comics and healthcare. Everything I’ve done comes together at this nexus. Graphic Medicine is about personal stories. People can read, but also see, what it’s like to experience illness every day. This visualisation ensures immediate engagement. By using different styles, you can easily glide through the past and the present – for example, by showing inner conflicts. This is especially important for people with illnesses or disabilities that are not outwardly visible. For instance, if you have psychological problems, people may not understand why you’re not performing well, because you look ‘normal’.
“Through the research grant, a huge project with five research areas has been set up. In the first project, we investigate the extent to which the humanities are used at medical faculties. Is attention paid to close reading (a thorough analysis of a text to gain deep understanding)? And is there room for debate in gender and disability studies, for example?
“What’s more, there’ll be a huge database of English, Dutch and French Graphic Medicine and the research that’s being done on it. We’ll categorise all that so that the research can continue and people can access it.
“I expect the most direct impact from research into medical institutions that already work with cartoonists. These go further than just using infographics to explain how a kidney dialysis room works, for example. Sharing personal stories of patients and doctors in comic strip form creates a sense of community in healthcare. Our goal is to show other people how they can do the same.”
What would you say to your 18-year-old self?
“Always follow your instincts and what interests you. Even if other people aren’t interested in what you do, or if you get turned down for jobs or grant applications, it’s your instincts and interests that’ll keep you going. Trends come and go, but the real heart of research is something you find within yourself.”
