A Practice-Based Study of Worldbuilding & Autofiction in Autobiographical Bandes Dessinées

Abstract

This study explored the practice of creating subjective autobiographies through reflective methods and relevant theoretical concerns. Autobiographical bandes dessineés (autobioBDs) is a trend in European comics that is characterised by highly imaginative and subjective representations of the autobiographical self. AutobioBD stories attempt an emotional truth by depicting the author-artist’s authentic reactions to people, places or events. Autofiction and worldbuilding theory provide a theoretical basis for the study’s reflective outcomes. Autofiction is a literary concept used to describe ideas like the autobiographical pact, whereas worldbuilding describes systems of creating and understanding the imaginary worlds found in texts. Together, a lexicon emerges that conceptualises the autobiographical protagonist as a textual self, playing through autobiographical events in a textual world. By systematically reflecting during engagement with an autobioBD practice, specific insights were generated. A Practice-Based Research (PBR) methodology with reflective methods serves to excavate and engage with previously tacit knowledge of creative practice. This study contributes towards the existing autobioBD scholarship by demonstrating insights against a reflection from the artist-researcher’s point of view.