Exhibiting fun: Comics museums in France
Comics, in France, are serious business. 1 in 4 books sold today is in the form of a comic book, and ever since 1974, the country has hosted one of the world’s largest international comics festivals. Having long recognized the medium as the “9th art”, France prides itself in being one of the rare countries that has championed the potential of the medium early on, and it’s not an overstatement to say that some of its comics authors and artists are considered national heroes.
In this presentation, I will share the findings from my time spent in France researching an important cultural recognition of the medium: its museification. This talk will highlight my experience in comics museums in Angoulême and Blois. By paying close attention to the exhibition choices of these institutions, I will question our understanding of what a museum space “should” be, what it is, and what potential it holds for the future.
