ETHICAL AND MORAL





CONSIDERATIONS

It is important for comic artists to keep in mind ethical and moral considerations when creating their work. This is because when you read a comic, you may find yourself empathizing or associating yourself with the characters in the comic, it is much easier to do this when you can relate to the characters.

Professional comic artists in the queer community from the 1970s such as Bechdel, Mary Wings, Roberta Gregory, Howard Cruse, Diane DiMassa and Jennifer Camper created a space first in underground comix and then more widely in comics culture for previously invisible members of the community to be seen.

We all have an unconscious bias that we struggle with internally, Bechdel speaks on this; “As I grew more and more politicised, it began to rankle that my sketch books were devoid of women… To draw a woman involved not just a change of subject matter, but rewriting the circuitry that seemed to run directly from my subconscious to my pen” (Indelible, 24) – It is important to recognise this, as Bechdel did, and to challenge the thought process so that we can practice drawing more inclusively.

A comic is quite plain and unrealistic when illustrators don't practice drawing more inclusively, not only is it important to include LGBTQ couples in all forms of narrative, but it is also important to consider practicing drawing people of different heritages, cultures and weights.

The best way to be inclusive is to give invisible groups of people the visibility that they need, without stereotyping or stigmatising them, instead, humanise them.