PULLMAN, Wash. – How has the atomic age been depicted in popular culture? Mark O’English, library archivist at Washington State University, will address “Atomic Comics: Science as seen through Comic Books and Popular Culture” as the guest speaker at the Common Reading Tuesdays lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Todd 216.Drawing on personal experiences, including a stint at Marvel Comics, as well as his work with WSU’s Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections (MASC), O’English will focus on the ways in which comic books illustrate popular concerns and understanding of the nuclear age.
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| Copyright Marvel Comics, 1960. |
William Laurence, a New York Times journalist, coined the phrase “atomic age” following detonation of the first nuclear bomb Trinity on July 16, 1945. Shortly after, science fiction novels and films began depicting humanity’s battle against nuclear-created or radiation-mutated monsters.
The WSU Pullman 2011-12 common reading book is “Physics for Future Presidents,” by UC-Berkeley professor Richard A. Muller.
“In the ‘Nukes’ section of Richard A. Muller’s book, he talks about how science is mistakenly portrayed for sensationalistic effect in movies and comics,” O’English said. “His theoretical U.S. presidents are making their decisions based as much on public impressions as they are on raw science.”
Common Reading Tuesdays features presentations by faculty and other experts to audiences of students using a common reading book in one or more first-year classes. For more information, visit http://CommonReading.wsu.edu.
Source:
Karen Weathermon, Common Reading Program, 509-335-5488, weathermon@wsu.edu
Karen Weathermon, Common Reading Program, 509-335-5488, weathermon@wsu.edu
Media contact:
Merik Metos, University College, 509-335-8070, mmetos@vetmed.wsu.edu
Merik Metos, University College, 509-335-8070, mmetos@vetmed.wsu.edu