The Carnival Grotesque - Representations of femininity in Swedish feminist comics

This dissertation explores the mainstream success of a new wave of Swedish female cartoonists borne out of the feminist zine community between 2004 and 2016. These cartoonists have contributed to a change in perception in Sweden about comics as a medium and their potential to introduce current feminist discourse into mainstream media and reach a wider public. This study identifies a commonality in these comics of the parodic and liberating humour of the carnivalesque; a literary tendency proposed by Russian literary critic Mikhail Bakthin which expresses frustration and discontent with the structure of society through a certain ritualistic humour. In the context of these comics, the carnivalesque are a set of ritualistic acts and performances that expose dominant structures and offer new ways of performing femininity. Despite working independently for the most part, the power of their work lies in the way they expand on (even imitate) each other, often picking up on a specific subject or area of critique where another left off, with the effect of combining their individual voices into one great voice. Although there are many cartoonists involved in the feminist zine community, this study has singled out three artists to focus on; Sara Granér, Liv Strömquist and Nina Hemmingsson. This dissertation explores this cultural phenomena by asking what Swedish political and cultural preconditions allowed for these usually marginalised feminist zine makers to become part of popular culture. Further it considers how they communicate feminism in ways that appeal to a mainstream audience. Lastly it questions how, if at all, their alternative representations of femininity benefit women living in Sweden?