Join us for a captivating conference on "Les Femmes dans la BD: Silence, Sexe et Soumission?" (Women in Comics: Silence, Sex, and Submission?), presented by Laurence Grove and Anabelle Araujo. This conference will provide an opportunity to engage in a vibrant discussion on the portrayal of women in comics, addressing challenges, stereotypes, and featuring new modern women artists. The conference will be followed by a Q&A session.

The evening will start with the launch of the "Mythes and Meufs" exhibition of comics by Blanche Sabbah, offering a unique opportunity to explore the collection with explanations from our specialists.

Finally, discover the diverse Francophone comic collection available for purchase from Anabelle and Benoit, heralding the upcoming La Belle Aventure: a soon-to-be bookshop dedicated to Francophone comics in Edinburgh.

Meet our experts:

Laurence Grove, Professor of French and Text/Image Studies in French, is also the Director of the Stirling Maxwell Centre for the Study of Text/Image Cultures. He has made numerous invited media appearances, including television (BBC, STV, Sky), BBC Radio Scotland, etc. He has contributed to the press (The Scotsman, The Herald, BBC Online, THE) and serves as a go-to consultant for media outlets worldwide (USA, Canada, India, France, Italy, Belgium, England, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, etc.). He has co-curated exhibitions (Breaking the Renaissance Code; Comic Invention; Frank Quitely: The Art of Comics), organised or co-organized ten international conferences, and authored (in full, jointly, or as editor) eleven books and over sixty-five chapters or articles.

Anabelle and Benoit are two new bookshop owners specialised in comics. They will soon be opening their shop in Edinburgh. Over her 20-year career, Anabelle Araujo has explored various roles in the realm of the 9th Art, including festival organiser, certified educational animator, specialised bookseller, artist agent, and business leader. Anabelle has cultivated an extensive network over the years, earning recognition and appreciation from numerous authors and professionals in the industry.

Benoit Guilloux has been a comic book enthusiast since childhood. He had the opportunity to blend work and passion by partnering with Anabelle in establishing a place called Café BD in Bordeaux. Following this initial entrepreneurial venture, he worked for 11 years in the largest art gallery dedicated to the 9th Art in Paris. In this role, he served as an art handler and technical manager. Diligent and attentive, Benoit has developed strong technical skills throughout his career in the management, valorization, and exhibition of comic book artworks.

If you are a student at Glasgow University, email : biblio@afglasgow.org.uk to get free membership.

Free for members and £3 for non-members

Registration is compulsory.

The conference will be held in French. A minimum A2 level is advised.