Congratulations to Catherine Clark (Mellon '15 and ÐÔ°®ÌìÌà '16) and Dr. Jennifer Henderson for the publication of their article  in the Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics!
Here's the abstract from the article:
"Researchers conducted a textual analysis of the first 18 issues of Brian K Vaughan and Adrian Alphona’s comic book series Runaways analysing the four female and two male lead characters in the narrative – Nico, Karolina, Gertrude, Molly, Alex, and Chase. The study operationalised the ideas of rationality, intentionality, and power to create the new variables of social, individual, and authoritative agency. Researchers then assigned a score of 0–10 to the characters for each of the three variables using a Holistic Agency Scale to more comprehensively reflect the ‘power’ of each character. The study ultimately found that (1) Alex had more agency than all of the female characters, and (2) that while none of the young women possess complete agency in any of the three categories, they are all complex, highly competent protagonists."
Notes on contributors:
Catherine A. Clark led this research project as a Mellon Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow at ÐÔ°®ÌìÌÃ. Upon graduating with Honors in Communication at ÐÔ°®ÌìÌÃ, she went on to complete a M.S. in Specialized Journalism at the University of Southern California. She is currently Managing Editor of Pecan South magazine.
Jennifer J. Henderson, Ph.D., is professor and chair of the Department of Communication at ÐÔ°®ÌìÌÃ. Her research addresses issues of media law, the ethics of media, transmedia narratives, and the use of participatory cultures for political and social action.
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