Constructing European Storyworlds through Comics in the long 1960s: The Franco-Belgian Case Study and a Europeanisation of Travelling Stories, Formats and Editorial Practices

The 1960s was a period of great change in Europe, particularly in terms of mass media. Comics are often cited in research as an example of a creative response against an Americanisation of European societies in the second half of the 20th century, with the Franco-Belgian school appearing as a driving force behind a Europeanisation of the comics industry. Using the case study of the cross-border comics transfers of France and Belgium, and more specifically of the Tintin and Astérix comic series, as an entry point for a wider reaching international analysis, this thesis explores how the storyworlds of Europe in the long 1960s circulated in comics and comics derived products. Different countries, languages and publishers presented parallel storyworlds, which demonstrated considerable crossovers that were shaped by the narratives and paratextual elements published or exchanged. The thesis focuses on cultural transfers in order to overcome common narrative trapped in national and single media narrative strands. The concept of Europeanisation serves as a common thread, as does the construction of multiple types of storyworld and is framed by insight into the editorial decisions behind such choices.
This thesis expands the field of Comics Studies in four ways: 1) adding an editorial perspective, 2) widening the multi-national research scope of international comics, 3) placing comics within a wider media landscape, and 4) linking comics to wider politics of cultural identity.