Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, germany, protest, understanding comics, university

University Library Graphic Novel Exhibit Damaged After Muslim Protest

Published Mon, 08 Jul 2013 08:00:16 -0500

Last updated Mon, 08 Jul 2013 08:18:34 -0500

A graphic novel exhibit at the German university of of Duisburg-Essen features the work of Israeli artist, Rutu Modan as part of a series of displays for What Comics Can Do! Recent Trends in Graphic Fiction. in the foyer of the University library.

German magazine Taz reports that the different displays explored different storytelling methods, genres and styles of twelve comics.

This included one focused on Craig Thompson's Habibi and another on Rutu Modan's Exit Wounds.

The first one caused objection from Muslim students over the word Allah in Arabic being displayed next to a violent sex scene from the first comic, and there were demands for it to be taken down.

Then one protestor, attacked another exhibit showing for Rutu Modan's for having what were believed to be pro-Israeli sentiments, such as an Israeli peace march and the words Shalom, cutting them out of the exhibit. It's an odd choice for such a protest, Modan's work is culture all dense and multi layered, it's not a zionist work, rather one that seeks to understand multiple motivation and effects.

The University has stated that the protestor may be sanctioned with legal measures, with the University President Ulrich Radtke being quoted as defending free speech and a lack of taboos at universities and that "It is in the nature of scientific discourse to withstand even opposing viewpoints" and it seems that these events may have triggered some new lessons and events to come.

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