2021 SCHEDULE

Streaming live Friday and Saturday: 

http://www.youtube.com/c/TheLatinxComicArtsFestival 

SCHEDULE IN BRIEF

11:00 a.m. Mesoamerican Comics

12:00 p.m. Punk Feminism: Feminist Zines 

1:00 p.m. Borderland Cryptids and Legends:  La Llorona, Chupacabras, La lechuza, and More!

2:00 p.m. Virtual Gallery Walk!

3:00 p.m. Comics and Pandemic Futures

4:00 p.m. Storytelling Across Mediums with ProfessorLatinx

LCAFter Dark:

~5:00 p.m. Meet the LCAF Advisory

~5:15 p.m. Dibujando el Camino: Comics Design

~6:30 p.m. "C1" Creators in Conversation featuring "The Dukes" Dr. Elvira Carrizal-Dukes and Ronnie Dukes of DukesComics.com

SATURDAY

11:00 a.m. Families, Friends, Culture; Kids' Stories from Our Roots

12:00 p.m. Rise of the Latina Superhero

1:00 p.m. Muy Macho: Machismo and Latinidad in Comics and Visual Media 

2:00 p.m. Storytelling in the Age of Disinformation

3:00 p.m. Storytelling Across Mediums with Dr. José Alaniz 

4:00 p.m. Comics and Beer Forever!: Comadres y Comics in Conversation con DocTeeRoh

FULL PANEL DESCRIPTIONS

2021 Latinx Comic Arts Festival

 

FRIDAY

 

11:00 a.m.

Mesoamerican Comics 

Dustin Garcia (Moderator)

Daniel Parada
Louise Fogerty
Daron Antonio Smith
 

Interlinking Mesoamerican comics traditions of the pre-Columbian past with modern comics, this panel demonstrates the ancient traditions of comics in America and offers examples of the incorporation of themes, ideas, and comic conventions. The panel includes a heavy emphasis on how research influences panelists’ work.

12:00 noon
Punk Feminism: Feminist Zines of Latin America and their Diaspora

Sharon De La Cruz (Moderator)
Daisy "Draizys" Ruiz
Breena Nuñez

A zine is a small-circulation self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images, usually reproduced via a photocopier, and is the product of either a single person or of a very small group. In this session, we will explore how the medium of zines continues to nourish the punk feminist scene in Latin America and its diaspora in the United States. Panelists will present their work and speak to how zines influenced their understanding of feminism, the differences and similarities between the medium in the U.S. and Latin America, archiving zines, and the future of punk feminism.

 
1:00 p.m.
Borderland Cryptids and Legends:  La Llorona, Chupacabras, La lechuza, and More!

Ray Ramos (Moderator)
Francisco Arce
Oliver Lee Arce
Javier Gutierrez

Cryptids are beings that exist without scientific evidence. Cryptozoologist, Ray Ramos leads this discussion on the effects that cryptids such as La Llorona have on our culture and the way that the mythologies of the Latinx community and beyond are interpreted and represented in comics and mainstream media...for better and for worse.

 
 
2:00 p.m.

LCAF 2021 Virtual Gallery Walk!

Join Dr. Theresa Rojas and Professor Laura Manzo for a virtual walk through our premier art exhibit! With almost 60 submissions, this art gallery showcases a variety of comic arts works. We'll walk through the gallery and demonstrate how to navigate. The Virtual Art Gallery is open until April 11, 2021.

3:00 p.m.
Comics and Pandemic Futures (pre-recorded)

Justin Rueff (Moderator)
Dr. Fernanda Díaz-Basteris
Javier Hernandez
Carlos “Loso” Perez
 

This panel discusses how the pandemic has affected the way creators and comic arts educators approach their work. They address questions of motivation, staying connected, re-mixing ideas, innovation, and change. What lessons and opportunities has the pandemic brought and what do these panelists see for the future of comic arts in changing times?

4:00 p.m.
Storytelling Across Mediums (I) with Professor LatinX (pre-recorded)

Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama (Moderator)
Jaime Crespo
Carlo A. Flores
Candy Briones
Alex Schumacher
 

In this first of two features about how comics creation translates into working across media/iums, panelists discuss engaging audiences well beyond comic books. These creators share their cultural, historical, satirical, semi-autobiographical, and transcendent work in television, video games, animation, toymaking, vlogging, webcomics, education, and more!

LCAfter Dark…

5:00 p.m.

Meet LCAFA! The Latinx Comic Arts Festival Advisory consists of eight members of the comic arts community, all working in different areas of comics production, education and support. In its first year, LCAFA has helped make it possible to present this virtual, innovative festival. Meet Katie Sweeny, Barbra Dillon, Luke Martinez, Kathryn Blackmer-Reyes, Dustin “Dus T’” Garcia, Jennifer Caroccio Maldonado, Jaime Crespo, and Manuel Martinez. 

 
5:15 p.m.
Dibujando el Camino: Comics Design

Bobby Hernandez (Moderator)
Jose Cabrera
Jason "J-Gonzo" Gonzalez
Oscar Garza

Join Bobby Hernandez, host of Cuentos Y Comics for this discussion of the role of various elements of design in the comics ecosystem. How might choices, such as color palette, composition, patterns, lines, character design, and tools of the trade work together to portray the possibilities of Latinx-centered universes?

6:30 p.m.
C2: Creators in Conversation #3 featuring "The Dukes":

Dr. Elvira Carrizal-Dukes and Ronnie Dukes of DukesComics.com
 

Join us for the third installment of “C2” with comics creators and power couple, Dr. Elvira Carrizal-Dukes and Ronnie Dukes, creators of the graphic novel A.W.O.L. as they discuss their super fascinating comic arts origin stories, journalism, filmmaking, collaboration, art practice, playwriting, traveling, projects, and narrative storytelling. They share the journey together building Dukes Comics and so m more!  

SATURDAY

11:00 a.m.
Families, Friends, Culture; Kids' Stories from Our Roots

Dr. Theresa Rojas (Moderator)
Cathy Camper
Isabel Quintero
Paul Meyer
Carlos Meyer
 

When creating books for kids of any age, where do ideas come from? How do we, as adults, come up with ideas that will interest and appeal to kids? How does one work around gatekeepers to make sure kids get books that reflect kids' worlds? Panelists share how family, friends, parenting, and the cultures these authors grew up in inspired their books for kids, and how they as creators have worked to create books that are both windows and mirrors of children's worlds.

12:00 p.m.
Rise of the Latina Superhero

Nelly Castillo (Moderator)
Kayden Phoenix
Amanda Julina Gonzalez
Barbra Dillon
Maxi Rodriguez
 

The public has spoken! In the expanding universe of superheroes, Latina superheroes are on the minds of all. This panel discusses potential futures and implications of the rise of Latina superheroes, addressing such questions as: Where are they? How will they look? What are their powers? Most importantly, when will they be here? The time is now!

 
1:00 p.m.
Muy Macho: Machismo and Latinidad in Comics and Visual Media
Luke Martinez (Moderator)
Henry Barajas
Terry Blas

 Deeply embedded in the experience of Latinidad is the struggle with Machismo. From outside of the culture comes judgments and stereotypes of all kinds - think for example, of the Latinx character tropes from “Latin Lovers” to gangsters or cholos or narcos. However, there is also a struggle within Latinx cultures because of how powerful this identity is, especially as it relates to those who do not adhere to it, those who challenge it, and those who are seen as dangers to it. In this panel, we will discuss the ways that this struggle from both sides is seen especially in Comics and other creative, visual mediums. 

 
2:00 p.m.
Storytelling in the Age of Disinformation

Barbra Dillon (Moderator)
Stephen Andes 
Desiree Proctor
Erica Harrell
 

For decades, comics have served as a storytelling medium that tackles hot-button issues across genres and age groups. Now, comics are taking on the age of disinformation, using narratives to examine those that would use misleading information to control others. Led by Barbra Dillon (Editor-in-Chief, Fanbase Press), this panel will discuss the current and upcoming comics that are addressing the spread of false information by higher authorities head on.

3:00 p.m.
Storytelling Across Mediums (II) with José Alaniz

 
Javier Solórzano
Crystal Gonzalez
Steven Prince
Catalina Rufín
Fernando de Pena

In this second of two features focusing on how comics creation translates into working across media/iums, panelists discuss engaging audiences well beyond comics books. Creators share their innovative and transcendent work in video, television, animation, toymaking, webcomics, film, education, marketing, and much more!

4:00 p.m. The LCAF Finale! 
Comics and Beer Forever!: The Comadres y Comics Interview with DocTeeRoh

Dr. Theresa Rojas (Moderator)
Kristen Parraz
Jennifer Lopez
Sara Bazan
 

Comadres y Comics is a podcast hosted by three Latinas highlighting the role that Latinxs have in the comic book industry, not only as creators but also as consumers and fans. Episodes include book reviews, “chisme de la semana,” discussions about the latest in popular culture, and the coveted “hora de las cervecita” where the Comadres rate the week’s beer selection. Latinx Comics Arts Festival Director, Dr. Theresa Rojas goes behind-the-scenes with Las Comadres for an exclusive interview and conversation about their show, working together, what keeps them going, and of course what everyone is drinking during this pandemic. It’s all the chisme you can handle in a single hour, and more! Content warning: May not be suitable for younger viewers.