Podcasts, radio shows, writing and more by Alex Fitch
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Panel Borders: Researching Comics’ Histories
January 21, 2020
David Huxley being interviewed by Roger Sabin at Comics Forum (photo by Ian Hague) / stills from The Marvel Superheroes, Mighty Mouse, Batman (1966) and Spider-Man (1967)
Researching Comics’ Histories: In the second of a pair of podcasts looking at academics’ research into comics, this show looks at different approaches to exploring the history of comics. As part of a panel discussion recorded at Graphic Brighton 2018 hosted by Elle Whitcroft, M. J. Hibbett and Rob Fleay talk about and perform music from animated superhero adventures from the 1960s, including tracks from the Batman TV show and Spider-Man cartoon. Plus, in a Q and A, recorded at Comics Forum (Leeds), Prof. Roger Sabin chats to the first researcher to pursue a doctorate in comics in the 1980s – David Huxley – about the changes in comics research over the last three decades, as well as Huxey’s experiences as a cartoonist on such titles as Oink!… (Edited and recorded by Alex Fitch)
Partially broadcast 1st January 2020 on Resonance 104.4 FM (more…)
Architecture Culture: Utopias / Dystopias
January 18, 2020
Favela Tower print by Toby Melville-Brown and interior of The Book Club, displaying The Future Was Big / Cover of the novel Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth and film poster
Utopias / Dystopias: In this episode of Resonance’s monthly show on how Architecture and the built environment is represented in Culture, Alex Fitch talks to artist Toby Melville-Brown and author Emma Jane Unsworth about their depictions of the city. Toby discusses his Tower series of prints which envision fantastical skyscrapers that absorb existing elements of urban architecture, and his exhibition at The Book Club, Hoxton – ‘The Future was Big’ – which contains sci-fi book cover illustrations of retro futures.
Animals is available now on Blu Ray / DVD / VOD and ‘The Future Was Big’ continues at The Book Club, London until February 16th 2020.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 15th January 2020 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London)
For more audio formats to download and stream, please visit archive.org (more…)
Architecture Culture: Adapting John Soane
December 20, 2019
Charles Holland Architects screens in front of Hogarth collage / Collage of Project Architects proposed pavilion for Dulwich Picture Gallery
Adapting John Soane: In this episode of Resonance’s monthly show on how Architecture is represented in Culture, Alex Fitch talks to architect Charles Holland about how his practice designed exhibition walls and screens to display prints and paintings in the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London for their current Hogarth: Place and Progress exhibition, and in a talk recorded at the University of Brighton, James Christian and Bethan Kay from architects firm Projects Office discuss their proposed pavilion for Soane’s Dulwich Picture Gallery, entered into the London Festival of Architecture’s 2019 competition. (more…)
Panel Borders: Formative Experiences
December 4, 2019
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Cover of How Comics Work by Gibbons and Pilcher / Posy Simmonds in conversation with Julia Round / cover of Back, Sack & Crack (& Brain) by Robert Wells
Formative Experiences: In a pair of Q and As recorded at The Cartoon Museum as part of a day raising awareness of the need to preserve comic book archives, from the collections of Peter Hansen and others for the nation, Posy Simmonds and Dave Gibbons talk to academics Julia Round and Philip Vaughan about the first titles they remember reading and enjoying.
Also, Robert Wells discusses his book Back, Sack & Crack (& Brain): A Rather Graphic Novel About Living With Embarrassing Health Problems, and history of self-publishing small press comics, in discussion with Alex Fitch at Cartoon County, Brighton.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 4th December 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Architecture Culture: (Im)possible Worlds
November 21, 2019
Maria Smith and Phin Harper juggle ideas at the University of Brighton / Paul Franklin talks Inception at The Architects Underground (RIBA)
(Im)possible Worlds: In a new monthly show looking at how Architecture is represented in Culture, Alex Fitch presents talks by artists, curators, film-makers and writers about unique representations of architecture in different media. This month, Maria Smith (Interrobang) and Phin Harper (Architecture Foundation) discuss buildings and architectural forms that have less of an impact on the environment and how these ideas have been expressed at the Oslo Architecture Trienniale. Also, Oscar-winning Creative Director and VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin talks about his work helping to visualise and design impossible architecture on screen in Christopher Nolan’s film Inception. Recorded at the University of Brighton School of Architecture, and ‘The Architects Underground’ (RIBA, London), October 2019. (more…)
Panel Borders: Genre and Inspiration
November 14, 2019
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Esther McManus, Danny Noble, Jess Taylor, Zara Slattery talking at The Cartoon Museum / Garth Ennis interviewed by Alex Fitch at LICAF, and examples of their work
Genre and Inspiration: In a pair of recordings looking at how comic creators are inspired by genre and inspiration, guest presenter and comics laureate Hannah Berry talks to Arts Foundation comics prize finalists Esther McManus, Danny Noble, Jess Taylor, and Zara Slattery in a panel discussion at The Cartoon Museum, London, plus Alex Fitch talks to Garth Ennis about writing Preacher, The Boys and more recent work in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 6th November 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Architecture Culture: Locating Design in Fantasy Films
October 28, 2019
Architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright in THX 1138 and Gattaca / Mackintosh Chair in Blade Runner / Unicorn Tapestry in Harry Potter
Locating Design in Fantasy Films: In a new monthly show looking at how Architecture is represented in Culture, Alex Fitch presents talks by artists, curators, film-makers and writers about unique representations of architecture in different media. This month, in a panel discussion chaired by National Trust Head Curator Sally-Anne Huxtable, Robyne Calvert (Glasgow School of Art), Ersi Ioannidou (Kingston University) and Xavier Dectot (Keeper of Art and Design, National Museums Scotland) discuss how architecture and interior design by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh help suggest science-fiction and fantasy worlds in genre films including Blade Runner, THX 1138, Gattaca and the Harry Potter film saga. Recorded at the Art History Association conference, University of Brighton, April 2019. (more…)
Panel Borders: European Comics
October 4, 2019
FOI diary comic by Myf Tristram / cover and interior art from Last Words by Siiri Viljakka and Lauri Tuomi-Nikula / web comic by Boulet / sketchbook page by Mattias Adolfsson
European Comics: In the first of a new series of Panel Borders, we have British, Finnish, French and Swedish comic creators talking about their work. Alex Fitch talks to artists Boulet and Mattias Adolfsson about their drawing techniques and styles in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, and guest presenter and cartoonist Myfanwy Tristram discusses the Freedom of Information graphic novel – Last Words – with its creators Siiri Viljakka and Lauri Tuomi-Nikula in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 2nd October 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Architecture Culture: Anise Gallery / Amiens Cathedral
September 21, 2019
Photo of Anise Gallery / Kiosk zine by Owen D. Pomery / Bleecker Art by Alison Samson / Amiens BD festival posters by Marc-Antoine Mathieu, Bouzard, and Manara
Anise Gallery / Amiens Cathedral: In a new monthly show looking at how Architecture is represented in Culture, Alex Fitch talks to artists, curators, film-makers and writers who have contributed to unique representations of architecture in different media. This month Jacquelyn Jubert and Joe Robson (founders of Anise Gallery, Shad Thames) and artists Owen D. Pomery and Alison Samson discuss the representation of architecture in graphic arts, and academic Justin Wadlow (University of Picardy Jules Verne) talks about the posters he’s helped curate for Amiens BD festival, which include representations of the city’s Cathedral and other architectural landmarks (recorded at Graphic Brighton, May 2019). (more…)
Panel Borders: Comic Collaborators
September 9, 2019
Interior art from Bizarre Romance / Guantanamo Kid / The Bad, Bad Place
Comic Collaborators: In the second of two special 90 min episodes, this month’s programme looks at pairs of creators who collaborate together. Alex Fitch talks to Audrey Niffenegger and Eddie Campbell about their illustrated short story collection Bizarre Romance.
Also, David Hine and Mark Stafford discuss their graphic novels The Bad, Bad Place and Lip Hook in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton, and Jérôme Tubiana and Alexandre Franc explore their bande dessinée biography Guantánamo Kid: The True Story of Mohammed El-Gharani in a discussion recorded at London Book Fair.
Originally broadcast Saturday 7th September 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Panel Borders: Nineteenth Century Comics
September 2, 2019
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Cover of Marie Duval by Grennan, Sabin and Waite / Christina Meyer talks about The Yellow Kid / cover of The Goat Getters by Eddie Campbell
Nineteenth Century Comics In the first of two 90 min programmes, this special episode looks at Nineteenth Century Comics. Alex Fitch talks to artist turned historian Eddie Campbell about The Goat Getters, which covers innovative American sports cartoonists such as Goldberg, Tad, and Herriman at the turn of the century.
And, in a Q and A recorded at Materialities of Comics (Aarhus University, 2019), Christina Meyer discusses the classic 1890s strips Hogan’s Alley and McFadden’s Row of Flats by rival creators Outcault and Luks.
Also, Roger Sabin and Simon Grennan explore the establishment of the online Marie Duval Archive at the University of Chester, which offers a high resolution resource of work of Ally Sloper‘s co-creator from the 1870s and 1880s (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine podcast: Star Gazing
July 26, 2019
Alex Fitch talks to Marcel Barion after a screening of The Last Land / posters for Astronaut / Fonotune / After We Leave
Star Gazing: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine podcast, Alex Fitch talks to four directors about their films on rockets and space exploration. Shelagh McLeod discusses Astronaut starring Richard Dreyfuss, Fint talks about his eclectic musical drama Fonotune: An Electric Fairytale, and Aleem Hossain explores his revenge and redemption saga After We Leave. Also director Marcel Barion, production designer Johannes Bade and Assistant director Carolin Utsch discuss surrealistic sci-fi movie The Last Land, in an interview recorded at SCI-FI-LONDON. Plus classic tracks by Iron Horse, Rilo Kiley and Commander Chris Hatfield. Originally broadcast on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB on Weds 17th July at 5.30pm. (more…)
Panel Borders: Inspired by Autobiography
July 4, 2019
Excerpts from The Book of Sarah by Sarah Lightman and The Lady Doctor by Ian Williams
Inspired by Autobiography In a feature length episode looking at how personal experience can inform the content of graphic novels, Alex Fitch talks to cartoonist Ian Williams about his books The Bad Doctor and The Lady Doctor which are inspired by his parallel career as a GP, in a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Brighton; guest presenter Philippa Perry discusses The Book of Sarah with its author, artist Sarah Lightman, and how the book’s mix of fine art drawings and diary entries tell a tell of faith, motherhood and upbringing, in an interview recorded at Waterstones, Hampstead.
Partially broadcast Wednesday 3rd July 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Audio Dramatics: Groundbreaking Podcasts
June 20, 2019
Promotional Images for Wooden Overcoats and Forest 404
An hour-long bimonthly podcast series in which Alex Fitch talks to actors and creators of audio dramas broadcast on radio or released on CD/mp3.
Groundbreaking Podcasts: In this episode, Alex Fitch talks to the writers of two drama podcasts which dig beneath two very different landscapes. Timothy X Atack discusses the sci-fi saga Forest 404, a dystopian series about an aural archivist discovering sounds of nature which could change her society forever – available on BBC Sounds, and starring Pearl Mackie, Pippa Heywood and Tanya Moodie, with accompanying documentaries and soundscapes. David K Barnes talks about his award winning comedy drama Wooden Overcoats which concerns the misadventures of a funeral director and his team of misfits on a small island in the North Sea, and his Doctor Who serials, The Dalek Occupation of Winter and Daughter of the Gods starring Peter Purves. (more…)
Panel Borders: Apollo and other Space Adventures
June 7, 2019
Interior art and cover from Apollo by Fitch, Baker and Collins / Interiors of Tim Ginger and Cloud Hotel by Julian Hanshaw
Apollo and other Space Adventures In a feature length episode looking at depictions of astronauts and close encounters on the comic book page to coincide with the imminent 50th anniversary of the first American Moon Landing, Alex Fitch talks to writers Matt Fitch and Chris Baker about their graphic novel adaptation of Armstrong and Aldrin’s adventures – Apollo – and to graphic novelist Julian Hanshaw regarding his books Tim Ginger and Cloud Hotel about alien encounters in remote locations. Interviews recorded at Portsmouth Comic Con and Cartoon County in front of a live audience.
Partially broadcast Wednesday 5th June 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Panel Borders: The Name’s Bond…
May 4, 2019
Excerpt from Ghost Walk with Me by Trini Howard and Philip Bond / Philip Bond reads Bob Bond / Carl Puttnam, Will Potter and Shelly Bond / Extract from Both Legs Down One Knicker by Bob Bond
The Name’s Bond… In this feature-length podcast, Alex Fitch talks to three members of the same family who are involved with making comics. In an interview recorded at the Portsmouth Comic Con, Shelly and Philip Bond discuss editing and drawing comics published by Vertigo and IDW, their love of Deadline Magazine, and collaborating with Cüd’s Will Potter and Carl Puttnam on stories for Black Crown Quarterly. In a Q and A recorded at Cartoon County, Bob Bond talks about his six decades as a sports cartoonist, collected in such anthologies as 1966 and All That! and Both Legs Down One Knicker.
Partially broadcast Wednesday 1st May 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine podcast: Innovation in Animation
April 28, 2019
Posters for Francis and Doozy directed by Richard Squires / Fantastic Mr. Fox, Frankenweenie and Isle of Dogs, line produced by Simon Quinn
Innovation in Animation: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast, Alex Fitch talks to the creators of films which revisit old forms of animation in new and innovative ways. Director Richard Squires discusses Doozy, his semi-animated documentary about actor / Hanna-Barbera voice artist Paul Lynde, and short films Francis and Ontologically Anxious Organism, in an interview recorded at Fabrica, Brighton. Animation Line Producer Simon Quinn talks about working on classic British TV animated shows such as the turn of the century revivals of Fireman Sam and The Wombles, and stop-motion features including Frankenweenie, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Isle of Dogs. The hour long broadcast of this show will be on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB on Weds 15th May at 5.30pm, repeated Fri 17th May at 2.30am. (more…)
Panel Borders: Inspired By Music
April 5, 2019
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Various publications by Holly Casio / Covers and interior art from Metroland by Ricky Miller and Julia Scheele
Inspired By Music: In a feature length podcast, Alex Fitch talks to two comic creators whose publications are inspired by music. Zine creator Holly Casio discusses her various Bruce Springsteen inspired titles including Queers on the edge of town in a Q and A recorded at Graphic Brighton 2018, and writer / publisher Ricky Miller talks about Metroland his comic about British pop music and time travel, mainly illustrated by Julia Scheele, and the various titles he’s overseen as co-publisher of Avery Hill, in an interview recorded at Cartoon County.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 3rd April 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast: Documentary / Art
April 4, 2019
Photo of The Tent as displayed in University of Brighton gallery / stills from promotional video for Frames of Representation at the ICA
Documentary / Art: In this month’s Electric Sheep Magazine Podcast, Alex Fitch looks at the presentation of documentaries in art galleries. Director Kannan Arunasalam discusses his films The Tent, Kerosene and Paper being displayed in the Grand Parade Galleries, University of Brighton and at The Tetley Gallery, Leeds, which depict the effect of the Civil War on everyday life in Sri Lanka in the years that followed; ICA Cinema and Film Programme Manager Nico Marzano talks about this year’s Frames of Representation festival, which focuses on political and aesthetic approaches to documentary film. With music curated by Kieron Gillen, including tracks by Imarhan, La Luz, and Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 20th March 2019, on Resonance 104.4 FM
Visit www.archive.org, for more info and formats you can stream / download (more…)
Panel Borders: Inking and Painting Women
March 13, 2019
Astrid Schmetterling discusses the work of Charlotte Salomon at the Jewish Museum, London / Cover of The Inking Woman / Selection of Cath Tate Cards
Inking and Painting Women: Celebrating International Women’s Day, in this “feature-length” podcast, guest presenter Corinne Pearlman introduces three talks about female comic creators, recorded at Laydeez Do Comics. WIth an invitation from Sarah Lightman, Visual Cultures lecturer Astrid Schmetterling (Goldsmiths, University of London) explores the life and work of painter Charlotte Salomon, whose series “Life? or Theatre?” is now being reconsidered as the first graphic novel by a woman, Cath Tate talks about how her card company commissions greeting cards by female cartoonists, and Corinne discusses the creation of her strip “Playing the Jewish Card” and publishing the anthology “The Inking Women: 250 Years of Women Cartoon and Comic Artists in Britain”.
Originally broadcast Wednesday 6th March and Friday 8th March 2019 on Resonance 104.4 FM / DAB (London) (more…)
