komiks presents...ben anderson

On my way to Contemporary British Literature class, I remembered the news that back in UP in his capacity as a Rizalian scholar is Benedict Anderson, the world-renowned author of the much-praised book on socially-constructed nationhood entitled Imagined Communities. I was among the jampacked crowd the last time he visited to talk about the obscure European literary references of the National Hero’s two great novels. The talk’s impressive revelation made me see Rizal the writer in a different light such that I was influenced into returning to listen to Dr. Preachy’s Cornell University colleague, who showed how El Filibusterismo responded to the temporal (read: premodern) way in which the 19th century Other was imagined by his modern colonizer. I was lucky to have the opportunity to be photographed along with him and my favorite Comparative Literature professor, but not lucky enough because, well, just look at the direction of Ben’s gaze. I felt like I’m an outsider in his imagined community, hahaha. By the way, if Carl is reading this, I’m giving you the chance to guess who took our picture. Whoever it is that you’re thinking, you could imagine him feeling like performing a lupasay in the midst of Bulwagang Recto when Dr. Legasto called him to act as a one-time photographer. Basta, laking Bear Brand siya.
Just outside the hall, in FC Gallery 1, there is a very interesting komiks exhibit of which I took snapshots for the world to marvel at the global-class talent of Pinoys like Mars Ravelo and Francisco Coching. Popular culture enthusiasts may want to check out this blog to see what else is in the offing for the komiks aficionados in the week-long Philippine Komiks Convention called Komikon 2008. And yes, gay icon Darna may be found there, with the classic issue showing young Narda’s transformation into the bodacious superheroine after swallowing her amulet. Lunukan pala ang labanan, ha…mga bading, ang bato!