Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Awesome Con programming PR (local ties in italics and added at end)

Awesome Con Announces Full Schedule of Events

Three Days Packed with Special Guest Appearances, Industry Expert Panels, Exclusive Screenings, and More Fill the Walter E. Washington Convention Center June 16-18

 

Washington, DC (June 13, 2017) Awesome Con, Washington DC's Comic Con, is proud to announce three days of programming complete with panels, workshops, celebrity appearances, and more, taking over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from June 16-18. This year, Awesome Con attendees will have access to specialized sections including Future Con, presented in partnership with the Smithsonian, featuring more intellectually stimulating and entertaining content than ever, and robust family-friendly programming called Awesome Con Jr., presented in partnership with Nickelodeon. Attendees can start planning their Awesome Con experience and view the full schedule online at: www.awesomecon.com/programming.

 

"This year we've doubled down on our programming efforts," said Awesome Con founder Ben Penrod. "From Future Con, to Awesome Con Jr, to our LGBT creators showcase Pride Alley, and to our most robust celebrity guest list yet, Awesome Con has grown by leaps and bounds into a fan convention unlike any other."

 

Highlights from Awesome Con 2017 include:

 

Celebrity & Comic Guests

Hear from some of the biggest influencers from the world of pop culture and comic books at panels, screenings, Q&As, and more. Events include:

·         Stan Lee Q&A (10:30AM – June 18 – Main Stage) Stan Lee will discuss his exciting career spanning several decades and answer questions from audience members. Seating begins at 9:30 AM.


·         Tech of Batman Panel with Greg Capullo, Scott Snyder & Tom King (1:30PM – June 17 – Room 150) – Capullo and Snyder, the creative duo behind today's Batman comics, join engineers and experts in technology and intelligence to look at the plausibility of replicating Batman in real life. Panelists will examine Batman's endurance, tech, and more to determine what's real and what's best left to fiction.

·         David Tennant Explores Time and Space (10:30AM – June 17 – Main Stage) – Actor David Tennant, who 'visited' the furthest futures while playing The Doctor on BBC's Doctor Who, joins experts Dr. Grant Tremblay and Dr. Matt Shindell on Awesome Con's Main Stage to discuss the outer reaches of the galaxy. They'll cover topics including Doctor Who, what's really going on out there among the stars, and answer questions from the audience. Seating begins at 9:30 AM.

·         Edgar Wright: Meet the Director of Baby Driver (2:00PM – June 17 – Main Stage) – Meet Edgar Wright, the director of popular film juggernauts including Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Shaun of the Dead, and get a first look at his new film Baby Driver. Wright will share insight into his career and the creation of Baby Driver, with giveaways and extra surprises planned for fans. Hosted by Felicia Day.

·         WWE® Superstars Charlotte Flair™ & Shinsuke Nakamura™ Q&A (2:30PM – June 17 – Room 146) – WWE® Superstars Charlotte Flair™ and Shinsuke Nakamura™ discuss life as WWE stars and answer audience questions.

·         The Guild Reunion with Felicia Day, Sandeep Parikh, Amy Okuda, Jeff Lewis, and Robin Thorsen (11:30AM – June 18 – Room 146) – Cast members of The Guild, the award-winning original web series, reunite to talk about working with each other, their careers, and new projects, and answer audience questions.

·         Experience Japan! (1:00PM – June 17 – Room 154) – Hosted by the Embassy of Japan, this panel seeks to help participants understand the influence of Japanese culture on American pop culture. Explore traditional Japanese culture, play Japanese games, and meet the embassy's very own therapeutic robot, PARO.

·         Representation Matters with Bryan Turner, Jerry Gaylord & Penelope Gaylord (3:30PM – June 16 – Room 152) – How important is it to see characters and creators that look like you? Join Identity Comics Studio and the "Loading Snacks" crew for a discussion on diversity in media, from the characters leading stories to the creators behind them.

·         Comics Conversation: Collections and Preservation at the Library of Congress (11:00AM – June 17 – Room 150) – Join Library of Congress staff members for a panel discussion about the comics collections at the Library. Specialists from the Library's newspaper, graphic art, and popular art conservation teams share collection highlights, insights on comics conservation, and suggest how attendees can utilize the Library's comics collection.

 

Future Con

·         StarTalk Live! with Colonel Chris Hadfield & Scott Adsit (8:00PM – June 16 – Main Stage) – Colonel Chris Hadfield, former commander of the International Space Station, and award-winning actor and comedian Scott Adsit (Veep, 30 Rock) co-host a special edition of award-winning talk show StarTalk Live!, bridging the intersection between pop culture and science with humor and passion.

·         Brave New Girls: Women in STEM (5:00PM – June 17 – Room 146) – Some of the greatest scientific advances in history have been made by women, but girls are seldom encouraged to explore the sciences. Future Con presents a panel of scientists jointly discussing the achievements of female scientists, women's roles in STEM today, and the need for advocacy to create the next generation of female scientists, engineers, and astronauts. With speakers from NASA, the National Science Foundation, and more. Hosted by Nerdist's Jessica Chobot.

·         IBM Watson: Superman or Supercomputer? Making Money with Artificial Intelligence (5:30PM – June 16 – Room 146) – IBM's Artificial Intelligence creation Watson, which made its debut on Jeopardy! in 2011, amazed American audiences and today is an open platform for millions of users and developers. Dr. Marc Teerlink, IBM's Chief Business Strategist, takes the stage to discuss what Watson represents for AI progress worldwide.

·         NASA's Space Lasers (4:00PM – June 16 – Room 143) – Explore the latest laser technology and the key science behind missions helping us investigate our home planet and beyond. Engineers and scientists will take you behind the scenes of missions like the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite 2 launching with green lasers in 2018, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter currently orbiting the Moon, and more.

 

Awesome Con Jr

·         GeekDad Celebrates Father's Day: Raising Geek Generation 2.0 (1:30PM – June 18 – Room 149) – Join some of the writers from GeekDad.com and their kids for a discussion about raising the next generation of geeks. Topics covered will include introducing various fandoms to kids, sharing old and new geeky passions, and determining what's age-appropriate.

·         Padawan Lightsaber Training presented by Saber Guild Corellia (5:45PM – June 17 – Backlot Stage) - Adults and their 'Padawans' can join Saber Guild Corellia to learn how to wield a lightsaber and stave off the Dark Side on the Backlot stage.

·         Kids Costume Parade presented by The Emoji Movie (1:00PM – June 18 – Backlot Stage) – Awesome Con encourages budding costume designers to strut their stuff in custom outfits at the Kids Costume Parade presented by The Emoji Movie. Participation is limited to the first 30 kids (and their parents) who register at the Backlog stage 30 minutes before the parade.

·         Let's Go LEGO! (1:00PM – June 17 – Awesome Con Jr Stage) – Cartoonist John Gallagher shows you and your kids how to draw LEGO versions of your favorite characters. Come expand your art skills and take home the art as a souvenir.

 

Pride Alley

·         Making LGBT+ Representation Matter in Fiction (5:00PM – June 16 – Room 144) – Engage in a lively conversation about LGBTQ+ characters in fiction and what creators are doing, or not doing, to foster representation.

·         A History of LGBTQ+ Representation in Comic Books & Television (June 17 – 12:30PM – Room 144) – Learn about the history of LGBTQ+ representation in Nerd Culture through discussion of the most iconic LGBTQ+ characters in anime, comic books, video games, and television. The important dialogue will conclude with thoughts on the importance of LGBTQ+ characters in the media and pop culture.

·         Pokémon, Musicals, & Gay with Voice Actor Jamie McGonnigal (4:30PM – June 17 – Room 144) – Fans will have the opportunity to discuss Jamie McGonnigal's impressive resume including his voice work on Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, his global LGBTQ+ activism, and his career as a Broadway producer. From questions about how to get started in voice acting to how to come out to your high school anime club – nothing is off the table!

 

Esports

·         NRG at Awesome Con (11:00AM-2:00PM – June 18 – East Salons G-I, Booth 16) - Fans of video games and esports will have a unique chance to meet players from NRG Esports' Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) team at Awesome Con on Sunday, June 18. Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, will host the NRG CS:GO team's visit in Awesome Con's Video Game Room in East Salons G-I from 11:00AM to 12:00PM for a live gaming experience, followed by an autograph session in the show's Exhibit Hall at booth 16 from 1:00PM to 2:00PM.

 

For Awesome Con's full guest and event list, visit www.awesomecon.com, and for the latest news and information, follow Awesome Con on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AwesomeConDC.


And here's a few more local ties that I noted:

Celebrating Five Years of Awesomeness

6/16/2017 / 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM / 103

It's Awesome Con's fifth year! Join Awesome Con founder, Ben Penrod, for a look at what the first Awesome Con looked like and what the Awesome Con of the future looks like!

Panelist: Ben Penrod

Rated G


Building a Better Batcave! with John Gallagher

6/16/2017 / 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM / Awesome Con Jr.

You are part of Batman's trusted team of engineers and interior designers. He has just tasked you with a very important job. Working together, you must design and draw the blueprints for a new Batcave!



The Advent of a New/Old Comic Company — C3 Comics

6/16/2017 / 6:30 PM – 7:15 PM / 154

Even though we've been around for almost 20 years, few have ever heard of C3 Comics.  And it's not your fault, it's ours.  We entered the Comic Indie Market thinking that we could take it over in one fell swoop; change the industry with just our imagination and boundless ambition.  Little did we know that the comic book industry is actually an industry, and that hopes and dreams only get you so far.  Join us and as we formally introduce the Indie creators, and company that's finally ready to make it's mark in the comic industry.  Broaden your horizons.  Read C3 Comics.

Panelists: Alan Cole, David Welcher, Jose Loeri, Raymond Francis, Douglas Pendleton, Robert Spencer

Rated PG-13


Awesome Con Short Film Fest

6/16/2017 / 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM / 144 A

Finish your day of insanity at Awesome Con by grabbing some popcorn, all your friends, and a seat, as Joe Carabeo(Director, Astray Productions, Project Resolution) and Otessa Marie Ghadar(Director, 2020 Production, DC Web Fest Founder) bring to Awesome Con for the first time, an Awesome Con Short Film Festival! Check out on the fringe films that have been making waves by Otessa Marie Ghadar, Rick Spears, Matthew Lucas, Michele Lombardi, Danny Caporaletti, and Joe Carabeo. Grab your seat fast for this exclusive, first time, Awesome Con mini film festival. 

Panelists: Joe Carabeo, Otessa Marie Ghadar, Danny Caporaletti, Rick Spears, Matthew Lucas, Michele Lombardi

Rated PG


PURE:THE MOVIE TEASER

6/16/2017 / 9:00 PM – 9:45 PM / 144 BC

PURE is an epic tale of ingrained racism and the evils of inequality – a project where models get body painted to become the characters of a graphic novel and a feature length movie.

The movie is based on a fumetti style graphic novel named PURE. A story built around the small nation of Seyns. It's governed by 7 feuding Western defined families(Baum, Cassidy, Dolle', Kindris, Rome, Mundi and Slaven); each with unique characteristics(heritage, social norms, cloning, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, artifacts and technologies). They don the ornate clothing and jewelry of money, beauty, and corruption. Their golden exterior and sky blue eyes belie any preoccupation with altruism, for the commoners serve as mere stepping-stones to money, power and useless things.

Panelists: Anthony Dortch, Grant Collins, Charlie Belle, Sha Golanski, & Gazelle Powers

Rated R


Using Comics to Tell the History of D.C.

6/17/2017 / 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM / 149

ReDistrictedComics.com is a new serialized online anthology that focuses on lesser-known historical stories about Washington, D.C. The site has caught the attention of students, teachers and historians. Join editor Matt Dembicki (District Comics, Trickster, Wild Ocean) for a panel conversation with local educators, historians and community leaders on how the website and its resources are being using as teaching tools inside and outside classrooms.

Panelists: Matt Dembicki, Jason Rodriguez, Jane Freundel Levey, Mary Ann Zher, Eric Cervini

Rated G


LIVE Carolyn and Joe Show Podcast "400th Episode"

6/18/2017 / 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM / 154

The Carolyn and Joe Show podcast celebrate their 400th episode! Every year one of the best times at Awesome Con is the live recording of The Carolyn and Joe Show podcast in front of a LIVE Awesome Con audience. They've had special guests from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pulp Fiction, Renowned Animation voices and Walking Dead Actors. This is a panel/recording/live show like no other and it's the 400th episode. What in the world could possibly happen this year?

Panelists: Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo

Rated PG


Alien Art with Dawn Griffin

6/18/2017 / 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM / Awesome Con Jr.

Awesome Con Jr. will be transformed into an alien factory when cartoonist, Dawn Griffin, shows you easy ways to draw wacky aliens.


6/18/2017 / 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM / 149

Learn how to color comics just like the pros with Comic Book Digital Colorist, Arsia Rozegar (credits include Marvel's The Hulk and Iron Man).  Arsia will demonstrate step-by-step techniques on how to color comic pages using Adobe Photoshop.

Panelist: Arsia Rozegar

Rated G


ARKHAM FILES: SUPERVILLAIN PSYCHOSES Vol. 2

6/18/2017 / 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM / 154

Ever wonder what makes our favorite Batman villains tick? Well, look no further, as the folks behind last year's ARKHAM FILES: SUPERVILLAIN PSYCHOSES panel return to Arkham Asylum to discuss the possible psychoses for a BRAND NEW set of villains in Batman's rogues gallery!

If you thought last year's villain profiles were interesting, wait until you see what villains we profile in this sequel edition!

Panelists: Brandon Troy, Julian Lytle, Charles Samenow

Rated R


Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski

6/18/2017 / 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM / Awesome Con Jr.

Every hero needs a logo! Many superheroes have personal branding on their outfits and My Little Pony characters even have cutie marks! Join artist and designer Carolyn Belefski and learn how to incorporate graphic design elements to create an icon and establish your own powerful visual identity.



Speech Bubbles, Ink and Clay Offer Powerful Ways to Communicate Science

By Andrea Korte/American Association for the Advancement of Science


The journey of a great white shark, the adventures of “science sleuths” and the inner workings of our genes are just a few of the stories told in comic strips and books, tapping into a rich medium for communicating science and presenting an effective way to use such art forms to teach readers about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Read the full article.

June 14-17: Library of Awesome at Library of Congress

May 26, 2017

Public Contact: Tyanne Rodgers (202) 707-1507, tyro@loc.gov
Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov
                                                                                                    
Library of Congress to Celebrate the World of Comics
The Library of Congress is gearing up for a super summer treat celebrating the role of comics and graphic novels in promoting literacy, as collectibles, in the arts, advertising, sociology, popular culture and history. Making a variety of collection items more accessible to the general public, the "Library of Awesome" features a pop-up display of famous comic-book issues, drawings, original comic strips and related items. Programming for all ages will be offered.

Nearly 100 comic-book collection items will be on display for "Library of Awesome," a pop-up exhibit featuring items from the Library's comic-book collections presented in conjunction with Awesome-Con, Washington, D.C.'s annual convention of comics, cosplay and pop culture. The display will be on view Wednesday, June 14 – Saturday, June 17 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street S.E., Washington D.C. Tickets are not required.

"Comic books attract fans and collectors of all ages. What many people might not know is that the Library of Congress is a collector as well," said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. "We have the world's largest collection of comic books, and I am so pleased we can share some of them during this special display.  I hope this experience will inspire visitors to further explore our collections and discover other surprises."

The collections of the Library of Congress include nearly 140,000 comic books dating back to the 1930s. Visitors will see famous editions of such comic-book characters as Wonder Woman, Superman and some of the most significant artwork and storylines in comic-book history. These include original artwork for the first appearance of Spider-Man and the American classic known as Famous Funnies No. 1 (1934), considered by many to be the first American comic book. First appearances of Batman, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk will be on display, as well as rare early science fiction and children's comics. The exhibit will also feature first issues of Archie, Luke Cage: Hero for Hire and Supergirl.

Additional programming includes a family-friendly costume contest with a chance to win a pair of tickets to Awesome-Con 2017, workshops and demonstrations.

Events are free and open to the public. Visitors who come to "Library of Awesome" dressed in a superhero character costume will receive a 15 percent discount on merchandise at the Library of Congress Shop.

Media wishing to cover the event must RSVP no later than Thursday, June 1. Additional details about coverage opportunities will follow.

The excitement can be followed on Twitter at @librarycongress and #LCcomics.

The programming includes:

Wednesday, June 14
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
"Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.  

Thursday, June 15
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
"Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.    

2 p.m. (Young Readers Center)
Cosplay Demonstration
Library Technician Ashley Dickerson and other cosplayers will demonstrate how they develop characters. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.

3 p.m. (Young Readers Center)
Cosplay Workshop
Library of Congress Young Readers Center staff and cosplayers will teach visitors how to make superhero arm gauntlets using basic craft supplies. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.

Friday, June 16
9:30 a.m. (Neptune Plaza)
Costume Contest
Get your capes ready! Come dressed up as your favorite comic-book character for the ultimate costume contest. There will be separate categories for children and adult participants. The winners of the adult contest will receive a pair of passes to 2017 Awesome-Con to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Free and open to the public. Reservations required; visit Eventbrite for reservation and official contest rules.

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
"Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required. 

Saturday, June 17
9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Young Readers Center)
"Library of Awesome" themed activites and displays 
Young Readers Center staff will host activities all day, including drawing comic books, creating props, and assembling costumes. Visitors will also be able to explore comic books, graphic novels and other Young Readers Center collections and partake in superhero and sci-fi-themed photo shoots.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (LJ 113, first floor, Thomas Jefferson Building)
"Library of Awesome" Comic-Book Display
Visitors are invited to explore this pop-up display of more than 100 iconic comic-book issues of today's most popular characters. The display will feature multiple themes including Wonder Woman and milestones, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Children's comics and sci-fi comics. Free and open to the public. No tickets required.      

11 a.m. (Walter E. Washington Convention Center)
"Comics Conversation: Collections and Preservation at the Library"*
Join Library of Congress staff members, including Senior Rare Book Conservator Claire Dekle, Curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art Sara W. Duke, Reference Specialist Megan Halsband, Head of the Newspaper Section Georgia Higley and Curator of Popular and Applied Graphic Art Martha H. Kennedy, for a panel discussion about the original art and collections held at the Library. Panelists will share highlights of the collections, provide insights on the conservation and preservation of this material, and suggest how attendees might come to use the Library's collections for their own research. *Awesome-Con 2017 ticket required for attendance.

The Library of Awesome is made possible by gifts to the Library of Congress Fund. Those interested in supporting free programs at the Library can contact devofc@loc.gov.

The Serial and Government Publications Division maintains one of the most extensive newspaper collections in the world. It is exceptionally strong in United States newspapers, with 9,000 titles covering the past three centuries. With over 25,000 non-U.S. titles, it is the largest collection of overseas newspapers in the world. Beyond its newspaper holdings, the division also has extensive collections of current periodicals, comic books and government publications. The comic-book collection is available for research use by scholars, collectors, and other researchers in the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room; for more information visit www.loc.gov/rr/news/coll/049.html.

The Library of Congress is the world's largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

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PR 17-63
2017-05-26
ISSN 0731-3527
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101 Independence Ave SE | Washington DC 20540-1610 USA  | 202.707.2905

June 14: Women in comics at National Museum of Women in the Arts





For much of comics history, women characters were introduced as plot devices for the leading male characters with disheartening regularity. Join us for a conversation about the new wave of superheroines entering the comic universe, leading the fight for justice and dispelling traditional stereotypes in fiction and beyond. 

Joining the conversation are:
Moderated by Emily Whitten, ComicMix.com writer and Awesome Con moderator, based in Washington, D.C.



Sign up now for your Friend Discount Rate of $15! Discount tickets are limited. (Regular price: $25 general; $20 members, seniors, students). Price includes museum admission and Catalyst cocktail hour. Galleries open to attendees from 3 p.m - 6:45 p.m. Museum store will have speaker's books and comics for sale before and after the program

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__nmwa.us12.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3Dc9a0cfd7a0c2b162ef936a052-26id-3D5ede2abb49-26e-3D225df7de93&d=DQMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=5Ly55I131CjW7KAYeC5suAHy2fYqba0vo9mjUwJEo_w&m=ce2NPwRJ-I5M0XHjq4vgdyrvk9lXI-LgB80LNRyDv9M&s=HvKJv2n7d1dUuM0MRsQehGPL_yuMDmYm7qn_t3xhO1w&e=

Library of Congress to launch webcomics collection says Comic Riffs


Webcomic fans, rejoice: Library of Congress is launching a new archive for you



Washington Post
Comic Riffs blog June 13 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/06/13/webcomic-fans-rejoice-library-of-congress-is-launching-a-new-archive-for-you/


LOC just put out a press release on this:

June 13, 2017


Webcomics and Web Cultures Archives Now on loc.gov
Collections are newest additions to born-digital content online

The Library of Congress today announced two new born-digital collections are now available on loc.gov – the Webcomics Web Archive and the Web Cultures Web Archive.

The Webcomics Web Archive (https://www.loc.gov/collections/webcomics-web-archive/about-this-collection/) focuses on comics created specifically for the web and supplements the Library’s extensive holdings in comic books, graphic novels and original comic art.

“Webcomics are an increasingly popular format utilized by contemporary creators in the field  and often include material by artists not available elsewhere,” said Megan Halsband, a librarian in the Serial and Government Publications Division.

Webcomics selected for this collection include award-winning comics as well as webcomics that are significant for their longevity, reputation or subject matter. The collection includes sites such as Dinosaur Comics, Hyperbole and a Half, and XKCD. Also included are works by artists and subjects not traditionally represented in mainstream comics, including women artists and characters, artists and characters of color, LGBTQ+ artists and characters, as well as subjects such as politics, health and autobiography.

The Web Cultures Web Archive (https://www.loc.gov/collections/web-cultures-web-archive/about-this-collection/) is a representative sampling of websites documenting the creation and sharing of emergent cultural traditions on the web such as GIFs, memes and emoji. The project is part of the American Folklife Center, established by Congress to document traditional cultural forms and practices.

“The proliferation of smart phones, tablets and wireless internet connection has positioned networked communication as a space where people increasingly develop and share folklore,” said Elizabeth Peterson, director of the American Folklife Center. “This effort will help scholars 25 and 100 years from now have a fuller picture of the culture and life of people today. “Sites included in the archive are Urban Dictionary, Internet Meme Database, Emojipedia and Boing Boing.

The Library collected and is displaying these sites with permission. Any further use by the public may also require permission.

The Library has been archiving select websites since 2000 and has now preserved more than a petabyte of web content, including collections of federal executive, legislative and judicial websites; sites of international governments; and national institutions such as the U.S. Olympic Committee and the American Red Cross.  

The webcomics and web cultures archives are among numerous collections newly available online during the past year. Others include the papers of U.S. Presidents Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce and William Henry Harrison; the papers of Sigmund Freud; a collection of more than 4,600 newspapers from Japanese-American internment camps; and 25,000 fire-insurance maps from communities across America, the first installment of 500,000 that will be accessible online.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States ­­— and extensive materials from around the world — both on site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.  Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

PR 17-087
2017-06-13
ISSN 0731-3527

The real history behind the look of "Wonder Woman"s Dr. Poison

by Mike Rhode

The new Wonder Woman movie has a long-standing villain named Dr. Poison who is developing a super poison gas to reverse Germany's imminent loss of the Great War. Elena Anaya's character is shown with a porcelain mask over the lower quadrant of the left side of her face.


This mask actually has a background in the medical history of World War I. Plastic surgery was still in developmental stages, and for some soldiers who were too badly injured, Anna Coleman Ladd of the American Red Cross in Paris, as did sculptor Derwent Wood in a London hospital, made masks of enameled-metal. The masks were painted to match skin color.

Very few of these masks were made. The soldiers receiving them had horrific wounds from shells or shrapnel (as seen in the pictures that follow), and were often lacking bone or soft tissue to be reconstructed, often including their noses or eyes. Dr. Poison's mask drops off late in the film, and she's revealed to have a gaping wound in her cheek, which in real life, probably would have been leaking saliva and making it difficult for her to eat or enunciate clearly. I have no idea how she received the initial wound since she should have been a research scientist far from the front, but the movie shows her enjoying her work too much, so perhaps she went in person to see the use of mustard gas at the front.

Online for the first time is the 1919 report "United States Naval Medical Bulletin Special Number:Report On The Medical And Surgical Developments Of The War" by William Seaman Bainridge, Lieutenant Commander, Medical Corps, United States Naval Reserve Force courtesy of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's Historian's Office. The following pages are from the report and give some idea of the process:









Driver F

Trooper E



"Red Cross Work on Mutilés at Paris, 1918" a short film from the National Museum of Health and Medicine can be seen via the Medical Heritage Library and shows Ladd and her Parisian studio. The National Library of Medicine has written about the film here and here.

National Library of Medicine spotlights Stan Mack's WWII cartoons

Malaria Pinup Calendars, 1945

By Mike "Sport" Murphy

Originally published in Hidden Treasure: The National Library of Medicine, 2011.

Upper half of illustration consists of a calendar and lower half consists of a woman looking at a picture frame of a solider.
A swell pair of all-American gams serve as a risqué reminder to keep pulling for victory over both Japan and mosquitoes. These pinup calendars were part of a larger antimalarial campaign that emphasized the use of bed nets, mosquito repellent, Atabrine (an antimalarial pill), avoidance of places where mosquitoes swarm at night, and keeping skin covered.

Monday, June 12, 2017

The Post on Wonder Woman, Batman and Marie Kondo

Wonder Woman's top animated voice talks about being the bridge between Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot


Washington Post
Comic Riffs blog June 12 a2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/06/12/wonder-womans-top-animated-voice-talks-about-being-the-bridge-between-lynda-carter-and-gal-godot/

Marie Kondo transforms into a comic book character to sell you KonMari


Washington Post.com (June 12 2017): https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/marie-kondo-transforms-into-a-comic-book-character-to-sell-you-konmari/2017/06/08/7ae5f50e-4a18-11e7-9669-250d0b15f83b_story.html
 

R.I.P.: How Adam West made peace with life and career after his iconic 'Batman' role [in print as Adam West: 1928-2017; Forever the Campy Batman]
Express (June 12): 20
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/06/10/rip-how-adam-west-made-peace-with-life-after-his-iconic-batman-role/

Glen Weldon on Adam West's Batman

Adam West Saved Batman. And Me.

NPR's Monkey See blog
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/06/11/532411148/adam-west-saved-batman-and-me

Library of Congress' CM Bell collection has one cartoon

The Library just put out a blog post about digitizing 25,000 photos from Washington at the turn of the 20th century.

06/12/2017 10:08 AM EDT

Military brass, senators, socialites and even babies—these are a handful of Washington, D.C., subjects photographed by Charles Milton Bell (1848–93) during the last quarter of the 19th century. The Library recently digitized more than 25,000 glass plate negatives produced by Bell and his successors between 1873 and the early years of the 20th century...


There's no cartoonists and only one cartoon in there. "Miss Callay [cartoon]" which "May depict Grover Cleveland embracing Frances Folsom." Personally I think there's something else going on besides their romance because she's dressed as Columbia, while he appears to be wearing a European uniform.


Sunday, June 11, 2017

New comics shop named in memory of local creator

A new comics store, Venus's Comic Shop, is scheduled to open July 8 at Union Station. Local comic book creator and store co-owner Raymond Francis told us the store is named in memory of Venus Winston, a D.C.-based comic book writer/artist who passed away in December after a battle with cancer. A portion of the store's monthly profits will be donated to cancer research, Francis said. Other members of the store's team include Robert Spencer, Zach Winland and Rishawna Gould. The store will have a booth (table 606) at AwesomeCon next weekend, and several members of the team will participate on various panels (Crucial Crisis Comics is their comics venture).




The Post on the death of TV's Batman