Augusta, Ga. – Is it possible for comic books to hold the hidden truths found within a society? Augusta State University History Professor Ruth McClelland-Nugent explains how this is possible as she presents her research in a program titled Wonder Woman Against the Nazis! Facism and Feminism in Comics 1941-1985 on Friday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. in 170 University Hall at Augusta State University.

In her study, Dr. Nugent discusses how Wonder Woman was created by a psychologist to be a strong female character for both boys and girls to admire.  She also shows how this is the only post World War II comic that portrayed Nazis as sexist villains.

“Although comics are sometimes considered to be fun and entertaining stories, they can contain powerful messages that can be used to describe the current state of our society,” says Dr. Nugent. “Comic books are a serious part of our culture, and we learn a lot about ourselves in these ‘fluffy’ publications,” says Dr. Nugent.

Dr. Nugent’s research is one of the few works selected to be published in the book Monsters in the Mirror: Nazism and Postwar Popular Culture set to be released next year.

She is a member of various professional services and organizations. Some of which include the American Historical Association, Popular Culture Association, and the Dalhousie Graduate History Society, for which she served as the president and faculty representative.

In 2005, Dr. Nugent joined the ASU faculty.  She received a bachelor’s degree in history from Franklin College of Indiana.  She earned a doctoral degree in American, British, and Canadian history from Dalhousie University.

This free event is hosted by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at ASU in conjunction with the annual A Day for ASU campaign. For more information, call ASU’s Office of Public Relations and Publications at 706-737-1444.
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Additional information: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. Phi Kappa Phi has chapters on nearly 300 select college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines.

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