French graphic novelist and literary critic Beno^it Peeters has been appointed Visiting Professor in Graphic Fiction and Comic Art at Lancaster University, making him the UK's first professor of comic books or graphic novels.
While several UK universities offer courses in graphic fiction, Peeters will be the first professor in the UK to focus exclusively on the subject.
Peeters studied his Masters under famed literary theorist Roland Barthes, and is known for his writings on renowned Belgian comic The Adventures of Tintin and its creator, Herg'e - particularly Tintin and the World of Herg'e: An Illustrated History.
He is also a successful graphic novelist in his own right, as author of Belgian graphic novel series Les Cit'es obscures ("The Obscure Cities").
Peeters says he wants to use the three-year professorship to "explore the connections between the history of graphic fiction and contemporary creation." Professor Simon Guy, dean of Lancaster University's Arts faculty, believes the appointment will bring "a new dimension" to the university's English literature and creative writing courses.
"Having Benoit on the staff, hopefully we will get more applications to study comics and other graphic fiction in a serious academic way," Guy says, as reported by The Independent. Peeters will lecture students on comic history, teach creative writing workshops and oversee PhD students.
The idea is "not to spend time with students just reading manga comics. Instead it's about how comic fiction is bringing together a range of social, cultural, economic, technological innovations", explains Guy.
Peeters believes the idea of comics as "low" or "childish" art is outdated. "What interests me is the evolution and connection between art, literature, movies, animation, graphic novel and comic art."
"It's important we move beyond the traditional canonical idea of arts and culture. It's important we understand the cultural and economic significance of the comic industry," says Guy.
In addition to housing complex messages and critique, the comic medium can be an important resource for teaching reading and language, writes Zofia Niemtus for The Guardian. The illustrated medium can make literature more accessible to reluctant readers and especially aid those who are not first-language English speakers, she explains.
Furthermore, the artistic medium, which flourishes online, can be used as a base for introducing learners to creative software programmes such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
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