Visualising Small Traumas: Contemporary Portuguese Comics at the Intersection of Everyday Trauma - 9

Cultural history of contemporary Portuguese comics andtheir creative responses to trauma

Portugal's vibrantcomics scene originated as early as the 19th century, bringing forth brilliantindividual artists, but has remained mostly unknown beyond Portugal's bordersto this day. Now a new generation employs this medium to put into questionhegemonic views on the economy, politics, and society. Following the experienceof the financial crisis of the past decades and its impact on social policies,access to and rules of public discourse, and civil strife, comics havequestioned what constitutes a traumatogenic situation and what can act as acreative response.

By looking atestablished graphic novels by Marco Mendes and MiguelRocha, fanzine-level, and even experimental productions, Visualising Small Traumas isthe first English-language book that addresses Portuguese contemporary comicsand investigates how trauma studies can both shed a light on comics making and beinformed by that very same practice.

This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).

"Byexploring a number of books that bring to the fore painful memories of thedictatorial regime in Portugal, or explore the price of the austerity policiesin response to the economic crisis of 2008, or the ongoing capitalist assaulton cultural diversity, workers' rights, and personal expression, I hope toquestion many issues that will hopefully contribute to a stronger diversity inComics Studies.", Pedro Moura