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“I Would Save You, But My Boobs Keep Getting In The Way”: An Examination Of My Art Through The Lens Of The Heroic Myth And Alternative Comics, Barrett Hollingsworth

Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Papers

My artwork challenges the masculine, violent idea of the hero through utilizing the visual language of comic books, as well as autobiographical themes. In this examination of my work, I explore conceptual and visual precedents and relate them back to my own practice throughout. My essay establishes the idea of the contemporary American heroic myth by looking at Joseph Campbell, as well as more contemporary re-examinations and criticisms of his ideas, relating the modern myth to the superhero comic genre. Next, I explore the history of underground comics, specifically feminist autobiographical comics, and relate the works of artists such as …