Archiv 2018 ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** This weekend (November 3-4) the Frame Comics Festival, a two-day celebration of indie comi at the Carolinum. If you are a fan of personal stories, more niche artistic approaches and novels and children's books, this is your chance to meet international authors and artists up a book for a loved one or a friend. I spoke to one of the organisers, Štepánka Jislová, an illustrator and well-known comics a about the end of the world as we know it, the portrayal of women in post-apocalyptic film behind the event. “The main idea behind Frame is mainly to connect people who care about comics and illustra thing about it is that it connects people internationally, so you can see influences from and you can actually meet the authors and artists and ask them why they did something a ce on. And maybe use that as an inspiration in your own work or perhaps connect with them to new.” The festival is in its second year now: what are some differences from the first? “As it usually goes, the second time means it will be bigger and there will be more foreig will be more stands displaying work and a broader spectrum of what you can buy at stands w themselves will be presenting their work. “There is a new series of talks and workshops; one of the presentations will focus on post comics, ok that one is mine (laughs). My main there will be the reasons why post-apocalypt are coming so much to the forefront nowadays and why they are so prevalent among Czech aut beyond just my own book. Many people are exploring the theme of what the world would look apocalypse. “But also because this is a young international festival, my other main theme is gender an of women in the world. I will be speaking about how both authors and non-authors imagine t women in a hypothetical post-apocalyptic world, what it would look like for women in a was general. There has been an influx in post-apoc in everything from games to literature and comics, i McCarthy’s The Road, around a decade back… “Or film. The Mad Max series including the last one, Fury Road, which I really like. I am newest one also for the reasons I said, for the role of women, which is very interesting i least because of [Charlize Theron’s] Furiosa. I am interested in how movies and other medi and Fury Road has some really interesting ways of portraying Furiosa. Because, let’s face Mad Max but he mostly just growls and doesn’t have that many lines. “I think it is interesting that many people are taking this theme in general: maybe it’s j the worsening state of the planet, that’s my guess.” There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t hear about the worsening environment and barr Trump administration! “Exactly and practically every month there is a new study about how little time we have le is why people are beginning to imagine the end of the world more and more often. And speci world will look like after the catastrophe. Meaning it will actually be over one day and t time and place to build again or to build something new again.” That is a very serious topic and one that I am sure will interest many visitors on Saturda here. Now, as you already mentioned, one of the big draws of this whole event is this kind with the authors themselves. That’s not something you always see, is it? “No. This one is really based on meeting people and that is one reason why an emphasis is stands where you can meet the author, discuss things or buy their work. What you won’t fin is the screening of films or anime or manga. This is not a cosplay festival and it also is DC thing, not that there is anything wrong with that. This is more about personal stories, viewpoint so the world, personal styles and personal stories and sharing them with the wor How do you view the state of comics at present? Because when I talk to aspiring artists or up and coming they are very positive, and one of the things that I hear is that things are the internet, bringing together different styles. “I think it is getting better and better. Credit must be given to the influx of comic book brought the medium into the mainstream. I think the turning point was the publication of M Spiegelman (1980) for which, if I am not mistaken, he got a Pulitzer. That was when people understand that comics weren’t just for kids but could tackle serious themes like the Holo “Right now we have a boom of comics movies, which has made it easier to explain what you d I can say that every year more and more books are published and they are much more diverse accessible to order online – you don’t have to wait until they are published in your own c enriches your own approach and style. You can build upon broader and deeper knowledge.” Many Czech publishers now value the worth of comics and the artistry involved and have got are some that will be exhibiting here at the weekend? “Among the bigger publishers will be children’s publisher Meander for whom I have a soft s used to work for them. They focus on very niche comics: artsy books for children. They off stories from the mainstream and different artistic styles. They are things that kids find it is worth pointing out parents too, since most children enjoy reading their favourite st over again. Most likely you won’t get really bored only the second time reading it.” That is an interesting observation about art in general: if there isn’t enough to discover is only one level, you do get bored soon… But if there is an interplay of abstract versus imagery and room for interpretation, that’s exciting. “Which comes back to why we are doing this: to offer and promote alternatives to more real There is nothing wrong with a realistic or semi-realistic approach like in Marvel or DC an and requires a lot of skill, there’s no doubt about that. But you always get the same thin semi-realism: you can’t really look at it and try to find something more. On the other han different angles, maybe you are more likely to come back to it.” Very quickly and I know its unfair to single out just a few – but who are some of the arti will be here? “I have two tips: one is for comics published by my former university in Plzeň (the Univer Bohemia) and its students, including a comic about the faces of women and the 100th annive founding of Czechoslovakia. “The other tip I would give is to come and see Diana Naneva. She is one of my favourite ar her last year. I didn’t know she would be at this event and I walked in and saw here and w god! and acted like a total groupie. I hope she doesn’t remember that!” (laughs) The Frame Festival takes place here at the Carolinum: how happy are you with the space? “Last year it was quite a surprise. I was used to kind of industrial sites for such exhibi hipsters and this is a very old and beautiful building mostly suited for very noble occasi really nice; it feels really good to have this contrast between new styles and new comics building. And, also, you have to be happy about the location which is right in the city ce really big plus.”