Comics in 2D formats

Comics in 2D formats with accessible text

Descriptive text

Text : The comic title is Roots and Routes into Academia: composite stories with and by Russell Group Academics of Working-Class Heritage

Panel 1
Comic image: An image of an electronic tablet with two email messages. The first one at the top of the page is from Jack, who is a student, to their teacher, Penny. The second email, which is below Jack’s, is Penny’s reply to Jack. At either side of the tablet there is a picture of Jack and a picture of Penny’s faces.
Text: Jack’s email reads, “Dear Penny, I’ve attached my research proposal. I’m interested in issues around social class and education. Your lecture sparked some ideas for me, but some of the case studies of working-class culture and heritage seemed quite negative, and I think a more positive view is needed. Penny’s reply reads, “Dear Jack, thanks for your feedback – let’s talk about this in our first meeting …”

Panel 2
Comic image: Penny is sitting at her office desk beside a window which has a tree outside it. Jack is opening Penny’s door and sticking his head around it into Penny’s office.
Text: Jack says, “Hi, I’m Jack. I’m here for my dissertation meeting. Penny replies, “Hi Jack. Come on in. Thanks for sending your dissertation proposal. Your ideas sound really interesting.”

Panel 3
Comic image: Jack and Penny are sitting facing one another in conversation. They are sitting in front of a bookshelf full of books. Behind Jack there is a poster for the British band, Oasis.
Text: Jack says, “I really enjoyed your social justice module last term. But that lecture on working-class communities being deprived rubbed me up the wrong way.” Penny replies, “Oh, okay, why was that?” Jack replies to Penny, “White middle-class academics making judgements about a community I come from and ones like it. It’s not all bad. I really enjoy crossing the border to go home – we have our own ideas on social justice and politics which are just as valid!” Penny says to Jack, “Oh, sorry it came across that way. Jack - wasn’t intended! Crossing the border? Where’s home?” Jack replies, “Northern Ireland.”

Panel 4
Comic image: Jack and Penny are sitting facing one another in conversation. They are sitting in front of a bookshelf full of books. Behind Jack there is a poster for the British band, Oasis. Penny is handing Jack a blue book.
Text: Penny says, “It’s interesting that you mention crossing borders. Have you heard of a novel called Border Country? It’s by an academic called Raymond Williams.” Jack replies, “No, but I bet it’s by another middle-class academic talking about us as victims, right?” Penny says, “No, quite the opposite, actually! Here, you can borrow my copy. I think you might like it. It helped me navigate this academic world we’re part of.”

Panel 5
Comic image: Jack and Penny are sitting facing one another in conversation. They are sitting in front of a bookshelf full of books. Jack is pointing to the bookshelf. Behind Jack there is a poster for the British band, Oasis. There is also a vinyl LP on the wall which looks like a silver disc. Penny is showing Jack the non-academic half of the bookshelf. Jack is holding a blue book in his hand.
Text: Jack says, “Thanks! So, you’re working-class then? How can you be, doing your job? I mean look at all these books.” Penny replies, Yeah, that’s my academic book wall. But this side is my non-academic wall. Two sides of the border, I guess! I like being reminded of home.” Jack replies, surprised, “Cool, I wouldn’t have guessed you listened to Oasis!” Penny replies, “Yeah, a favourite through my undergrad studies. So, a plan for our next meeting.”

Panel 6
Comic image: Jack and Penny are on a laptop screen because they are having an online meeting. Penny is standing in front of a bookshelf full of books in her office. Jack is in a room in his family home, standing in front of a wall with some of his achievements, which include two medals and a certificate. There is also a picture of a group of people.
Text: Penny says to Jack, “Hi Jack, how’s your reading going? Getting on with your reading?” Jack replies, “Good thanks. And yeah, had lots of time to read when travelling – the border crossing we talked about! Don’t mind my background – the wall that is. My Mum loves showing off all of my achievements, ha, ha.” Penny smiles and says, “I get what you mean. My Mum likes to ask me about my lectures loudly in public so everyone knows what I do.”

Panel 7
Comic image: Jack and Penny are on a laptop screen because they are having an online meeting. Penny is standing in front of a bookshelf full of books in her office. Jack is in a room in his family home, standing in front of a wall with some of his achievements, which include two medals, two stars and a certificate. There is also a picture of a group of people.
Text: Jack says to Penny, “Oh yeah, my Mum does that too! My mates are always making fun of me for studying at a posh London university but I get laughed at for saying a French philosopher’s name wrong – you can’t win.” Penny replies, “Those culture clash moments! They can make you feel like you don’t fit in back at home or at university.” Jack says, “Especially as I don’t really have time to take part in the university culture. I work in a pub and try to fit my studies in. When I have free time, I spend it reading.” Penny replies, “Yeah, I think I still have my McDonald’s uniform from when I was a student. I guess it’s kind of like living on the border, in a liminal space.”

Panel 8
Comic image: Jack and Penny are on a laptop screen because they are having an online meeting. Penny is standing in front of a bookshelf full of books in her office. Jack is in a room in his family home, standing in front of a wall with some of his achievements, which include two medals, two stars and a certificate. There is also a picture of a group of people. A speech bubble is coming out of Jack’s mouth with three text boxes with the names Goodson and Gill, Beverley Skeggs and Raymond Williams on each of them.
Text: Penny asks Jack, “So, what have you been reading?”. Jack answers, “Goodson and Gill, Beverley Skeggs and Raymond Williams.”

Panel 9
Comic image: Penny and Jack are in Penny’s office, sitting in front of a bookshelf full of books. They are sitting facing one another with a coffee table between them. There are two books on the coffee table and Penny’s leather satchel is beside the table. Jack is holding a writing pad. On the wall behind Jack there two Oasis posters, a vinyl record that looks like a silver disc and a picture of four people.
Text: Penny asks Jack, “How’s the literature review going?”. Jack replies, “Yeah, really good. I should think I’m all set. I should have a draft for you by next week. I’ve been thinking, how did you get to do a PhD?” Penny answers, “There are many different routes in. I’m actually working on a project about stories of working-class academics. We’re producing comics and other stories of our experiences. All of their routes are different and definitely not linear.”

Panel 10
Comic image: There is a close-up of the coffee table between Penny and Jack, which has two books on it. Penny can be seen reaching into her satchel.
Text: Jack says, “I like the idea of researching and teaching – sounds like a cool job. I guess I’m not really sure what else you do, though” Penny replies, “Right, let me get my tools of the trade. It’s funny, my Mum and Dad’s tools of the trade were scissors for haircuts, and a carpenter’s toolbox. Mines a satchel for books and papers and an academic diary.”

Panel 11
Comic image: There is a picture of Penny’s satchel and academic diary, side by side.
Text: Jack says, “I don’t fancy carrying a satchel – no offence, but it’s not really my style!” Penny replies, “Ha, ha. No don’t worry. It’s not essential for the job! Years ago, one of my undergrad lecturers had an old battered satchel stuffed with books and papers. I think it kind of symbolises the real academic to me. Same goes for the academic diary.”

Descriptive text

Text : The comic title is Navigating the Unknown: Career Journeys into and Through Academia

Panel 1
Comic image: There are three boats tied up to a quay in a harbour. The first boat is a luxury yacht. The second boat is a small brown wooden sailboat with two sails. It contains boxes and bags of cargo. The third boat is a motorboat made from sheets of metal and it has three sacks of cargo in the back. Beside the boats is a raft made from large logs of wood. On the quayside there is a sign which says materials. Behind the small wooden sailboat is a pile of planks of wood. Behind the metal motorboat are sheets of metal. Behind the log raft are large wooden logs. Further back from the quayside is the wall of a warehouse with a sign on it which says supplies. Between the wall and the quayside, there are different supplies. These include a pile of boxes full of cargo, sacks full of cargo and seven barrels full of cargo.
Text: The main text says that becoming an academic is a journey. Between the metal sheets and wooden logs on the quayside there is a text box with the phrase cultural capital written in it. Further back beside the pile of boxes in front of the warehouse wall is a text box with the phrase social capital written in it. In front of the barrels of cargo near the warehouse wall, there is a text box with the phrase financial capital written in it.

Panel 2
Comic image: In the background of this image, the luxury yacht is tied up to the quay. Beside the luxury yacht is a tiny grey sailing boat with one sail. In the foreground of the image is a small brown wooden sailboat with two sails. It is carrying boxes, bags and a barrel of cargo. In the top right-hand corner of the image is a map and a compass. The map title says Academia and the map shows a path dotted between two islands. There is a cloud with two forks of lightening on the right-hand side of the map. On the left-hand side of the map is an X, as in X marks the spot. Above the X, there is an arrow pointing up with a capital N beside it to represent North. The bottom-right hand corner of the image is covered with fog.
Text: There are two text boxes. The first one says, entering fog and the second one says, it can be isolating.

Panel 3
Comic image: In the foreground of the image, is a small brown wooden sailboat with two sails. It is carrying boxes, bags and a barrel of cargo. In the background a sleek speed boat shining a bright light is coming up behind the sailboat. The image is surrounded by fog.

Panel 4
Comic image: The speedboat zooms past the small brown wooden sailboat, splashing water over it. Liquid is starting to drip out of the barrel on the back of the sailboat.
Text: In a text box connecting panels 3 and 4, the words, others seem better equipped is written in a text box.

Panel 5
Comic image: In the background, there is a large cargo ship called Epistemic Injustice with the image of an anchor beside it. There are eight portholes across the side of the ship. An anchor hangs from the back of the ship. The cargo ship is passing the small brown wooden sail ship. Drops of liquid continue to leak from the barrel the small wooden sail ship is carrying.
Text: There are three speech bubbles coming out of three separate port holes. The first speech bubble says, show some initiative. The second speech bubble says, just get out of the fog and the third speech bubble says, you’re not autonomous enough. The image is surrounded by fog.

Panel 6
Comic image: The small wooden sailboat is sailing on a rough sea with big waves. Above the sail boat, there are two clouds with forks of lightening coming out of them. One fork of lightening hits the sail of the small brown wooden sailboat, causing part of it disappear. The barrel continues to leak. The whole image is surrounded by fog.
Text: Linking panels 5 and 6 together is a text box which says, you experience conflict.

Panel 7
Comic image: The small brown wooden sailboat is quite damaged, with holes in its body covered with patches. Part of the main sail is missing and other sections of the sail are covered in patches. The barrel at the back of the boat is still leaking liquid. In the background of the image is an old-fashioned 17th Century pirate ship. It has three black masts and four sets of sails. The main sail in the middle has a picture of a skull and crossbones on it. In between the small brown wooden sailboat and pirate ship are three circles, which look like cannon balls fired from the pirate ship towards the small brown wooden sailboat. The image is surrounded by fog.
Text: In the top left-hand corner of the image there is a text box which says, doubt. Above each of the cannon balls there are different text boxes. The first one says, alienation; the second text box, says, self-doubt and the third text box, says imposter syndrome.

Panel 8
Comic image: The small brown wooden boat is sailing freely. The missing part of the sail has now been patched up. There two patches on the main sail and two patches on the boat. The barrel has now stopped leaking. The image is surrounded by fog.
Text: In the text box above the image says you build resilience.

Panel 9
Comic image: The patched up small brown wooden sailboat is in the foreground of the image. The barrel is standing up straight and is no longer on its side. In the background, a small purple wooden sailboat with patches and cargo is passing the small brown wooden sailboat in the foreground. The image is surrounded by fog.

Panel 10
Comic image: The small brown wooden sailboat is sailing freely and calmly on the water. At the top of the mast is a bird’s nest with two eggs in it. A bird with a twig is flying towards the nest. The image is surround by fog which is lifting.
Text: There is a text box between panels 9 and 10 which says, you find mutual support.

Panel 11
Comic image: This is a long rectangular image. The small brown sailboat is sailing calmly through the water. It is all patched up and the cargo in the back is secured with ropes. On top of the main mast is a bird’s nest with two eggs and a bird in it. In the foreground, next to the boat, an old-fashioned corked bottle is floating in the water. There is a message inside the bottle.
Text: There is a text box which says, the fog lifts.

Panel 12
Comic image: Panel 12 is embedded within panel 11. It is an image of the message taken out of the bottle which was floating in the sea. The bottle lies uncorked beside the message on the piece of unfolded paper.
Text: The message reads, if you’re reading this, you’re almost there.

Descriptive text

Text : The comic title is Speaking Up and Being Heard: Finding Your Voice as an Academic of Working-Class Heritage

Panel 1
Comic image: Janice – the main protagonist of the story– is entering her department staffroom. She is coming through the door with a cup in her hand. Next to her is a bench with a kettle, some cups and a copy of a newspaper on it. Above the bench is a cupboard.

Panel 2
Comic image: Janice’s hand is stirring a cup of coffee. A used sugar packet and small used milk pod are placed beside the cup. In the top right-hand corner of the image is a newspaper. In the bottom-left hand corner is a picture of Professor J.R. Connelly, a leading researcher in Janice’s department.

Panel 3
Comic image: Professor J.R. Connelly has entered the staffroom. He is standing in the doorway to the staffroom holding up a copy of the newspaper with a story about him. The article has a picture of him on it.
Text: There is a speech bubble which says, good morning! Look at this. My research is in the news!

Panel 4
Comic image: Janice is turning her head around with a look of surprise. There is a cupboard behind her head.

Panel 5
Comic image: Janice is looking forwards with an expression of disappointment.

Panel 6
Comic image: The newspaper article discussing J.R. Connelly’s work sits folded on a table. The page shows the professor’s picture and accompanying article.
Text: The title of the newspaper is News. Below the newspaper title is a headline, which reads, raising standards in schools: working-class people and the shortage of aspiration.

Panel 7
Comic image: The image shows three academics sitting on sofas in the department staffroom. There are two people on one sofa holding mugs of coffee in their hands. One of the academics has blonde hair and the other one has brown hair. The third person is sitting on the second sofa working at their laptop. There is a table with papers spread out on it in front of the academics. There are two windows in the background with a clock above them showing the time to be ten past five. On the left-hand side of the image there is a long cupboard with a microwave and kettle on top of it. There is a cupboard for mugs above the microwave and kettle.
Text: In response to Professor J.R. Connelly’s news, the academic working on the laptop says, wow! congrats! The blonde haired academic on the other sofa says, well done. It looks amazing.

Panel 8
Comic image: The image shows a happy looking Professor Connelly responding to the other academics.
Text: Professor Connelly is saying, yes, it’s great for my impact study, isn’t it?

Panel 9
Comic image: The image shows an annoyed looking Janice. A cupboard for mugs is behind her head.
Text: There is a text box above Janice’s image which says, as the others celebrated, I felt my heart sink.

Panel 10
Comic image: Janice is standing in front of the bench with the kettle, coffee mugs and newspaper on it. The cupboard for the mugs can be seen behind her head. She is holding a mug of coffee and looking very annoyed.
Text: There is a text box that says, I felt my experiences and those of my friends and family being silenced…

Panel 11
Comic image: Janice has shrunk down to the same size as the kettle. She is standing beside the coffee mugs, the newspaper and the kettle on the bench. The cupboard for coffee mugs is above her head.
Text: There is a text box continuing Janice’s reflections from the previous panel. It says, … like we were spoken for by more powerful others.

Panel 12
Comic image: Janice has returned to her original size. However, you can only see her outline, giving the impression she is invisible. She is standing in front of the bench with the coffee mugs, the newspaper and the kettle on it. The cupboard for coffee mugs is above her head.
Text: There are two text boxes continuing Janice’s reflections from the previous two panels. The first text box says, …I felt like they didn’t see me standing there. The second text box says, … like me and my experiences didn’t exist.

Panel 13
Comic image: Janice and Professor Connelly are in this image. Janice is holding a mug of coffee and speaking to Professor Connelly, who is standing in front of the staffroom door with a rolled-up newspaper in his hands. Janice is standing in front of the bench with the coffee mugs, the newspaper and the kettle on it. The cupboard for coffee mugs is above her head.
Text: A speech bubble is coming out of Janice’s mouth with the words, do people you studied agree with your analysis? Because I was one of those kids with low aspirations. The phrase low aspirations is emphasised.

Panel 14
Comic image: The image shows Professor Connelly speaking back to Janice.
Text: A speech bubble says, oh really? Well look at you now. You’d never know. Clearly you weren’t really like them because you’re an academic now.

Panel 15
Comic image: Janice is walking out the door with her cup of coffee in her hand. She looks upset and annoyed. Professor Connelly is standing in front of the bench with the coffee mugs, the newspaper and the kettle on it. The cupboard for the mugs is above his head. He is holding a rolled-up newspaper and looking at Janice as she leaves the room. Professor Connelly looks happy.

Panel 16
Comic image: Janice is standing outside the staffroom. There is a sign on the door which says, staff room.
Text: There is a text box overlapping panels 15 and 16. The text box says, I was angry at how easily my perspective was dismissed and my experience invalidated; how to them a lack of connections and opportunities means a lack of aspiration. In the bottom right-hand corner of panel 16, there is a text box which says, and I was angry at myself for staying silent.

Panel 17
Comic image: There is an image of Janice looking happy. Above her head there are objects to give the impression she is being reflective. These objects include an open book, a house, a graduation style mortarboard hat, a closed book and an old-fashioned steam train.
Text: There is a text box above the picture which says, then something strange happened. In that moment of despair, I felt a surge of empowerment. I had to do more to work with people to let them tell their stories.

Panel 18
Comic image: Janice is presenting at a conference. She is standing at a podium making a presentation. Next to her is a panel of speakers listening to her talk. In front of her is an audience.
Text: A text box is placed between the top of panels 17 and 18. It says, I had to do more to share stories of working-class experiences which went beyond a limited range of stereotypes. A text box sits below panel 18 which says, these experiences can be painful, but are very formative.

Panel 19
Comic image: This is an overhead shot of Janice working at her laptop. To her left, on the table she is working at, is a notepad with some writing on it. There are also two books. To the right of the laptop, is a mug of coffee.
Text: There is a text box at the bottom of panel 19 which says, they help us to develop our own confidence and to grow as an academic and to understand the importance of our work being inclusive and informed.

Panel 20
Comic image: This image is a snapshot of a page outlining the number of responses to a survey. At top of the page, there are two headings which read, questions and responses. In the section below the headings, the text indicates there have been 6527 responses. Below this section, there is a snapshot of a pie chart.
Text: There is a text box sitting over the top of panel 19 and a section of panel 20. It reads, I won’t ever be truly comfortable but I’m confident that I need to be here to tell the stories of people like me.

Panel 21
Comic image: The image is a newspaper with Janice’s picture on it. The title says, News and the headline reads, new research with local communities shows no lack of aspiration in working-class pupils – just a lack of resources. The background for this image is a star-like shape that demonstrates a sense of an impact being made.
Text: Above panel 21 and overlapping with the bottom of panel 20, is a text box which says, I don’t just have the right to occupy this space, I have to do it so that we can really understand the world in all its complexities.