Raymond Rim (University of Redlands)
raym@****.com (Log-in to reveal)

While anime and manga were dominant during the latter half of the 20th century and the early parts of the 21st, they have become less dominant in their popularity. Graphic comics from Korea, China, and other parts of the world have increased in readership, and texts like Solo Leveling and Tales of Demons and Gods have spawned their own enthusiastic fandoms. Other webtoons outside of Asia are also growing in popularity like the New Zealand webtoon Lore Olympus. As globalization increases and internet connectivity draws imagined communities close together, the advent of manhwas, manhuas, and webtoons has had a productive effect on cultural relevance and academic scholarship. This panel invites both domestic and international scholars to present their scholarly ideas on manhwas, manhuas, and webtoons.

Manga and anime are products of a distinct culture based in Japan; while many of the themes from that genre have global resonance, there are limitations due to the nature of how culture and society intersect in any country. The evolution in technology and software have increased the number of graphic comics outside of Japan. While there is a long history of graphic novels that dominate the traditional American market (like Batman and Archie and Jughead), manhwas and manhuas and webtoons arguably trace a non-Western lineage from the roots of manga. The style and elements of manga formatting, like the four-koma manga, have had a pronounced effect on the development and evolution of manhwas, manhuas, and webtoons. As these similar but disparate genres grow, they acquire their own distinct themes, symbols, and styles that are pertinent to the cultures that engender them. For instance, in a country like South Korea which is known for its high percentage of cosmetic surgery, a manhwa like Lookism that focuses on themes like looks, popularity, and beauty standards is not unexpected. Because of the nature of the medium, there is a vast range of possibilities in diegetic worlds and the resulting characters and narratives. This panel encourages scholars, both domestic and international, from diverse disciplines and studies to use their lenses on this cultural phenomenon.