MA to PhD: From ‘East VS West’ to Transnationalism…

Here is an image I drew when I applied for a PhD in comics: 

Apparently, I was considering Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud when I made this image:

Another source of inspiration for this image came from my MA dissertation: Looking at the Language of Comics: Through a Cultural Lens. It was awarded distinction at Royal College of Arts, though around that time I didn’t what it would lead to. However, after working as an illustrator and comic artist in China for two years, I felt the industry brought me more questions than money.  I read the dissertation again and felt that I should continue with my ‘pure’ academic enquiry. 

It felt like if I didn’t do it (as an outsider of Western world, as a multilingual author, as someone who is constantly navigating between East and West), the gap would always be there. We live in a world where segregation is on the increase - politically, economically, culturally…(and always, spiritually). I don’t want to contribute to it anymore. 

Part of my MA dissertation. I haven’t published it, but please PM me if you want to read the whole article: 

I focus on the dichotomy between East and West when I applied for the PhD. But things changed rapidly as I came to the UK. I realised what I wanted to investigate was much more complicated. After discussing with my supervisors, we agreed that the notion of transnationalism was better. 

So I begun to talk to everyone that I am doing a PhD in transnational comics! - even though I didn’t know what it exactly meant. (Could it be an umbrella term that ignores power relations?) 

One thing is certain - from ‘differences’ to ‘synthesis’ of and ‘dialogue’ between differences… it feels much more positive - and open to more questions. 😇