AnimeGo!

A fantastic linguistic masterclass at the OzAsia Festival event, AnimeGO Japan Pop Culture Festival in Adelaide, South Australia on October 27!

The masterclass was an interactive session that delved into the use of language in context, image stereotypes, and representations in Japanese animation and Manga, and the genre's influence in European comic book literature, specifically la bande dessinée franco-belge, followed by excerpts of my new language class Language in Action™ presenting a character design and illustration workshop creating a character and exploring the role of language within the character's narrative.

Thanks to a beautiful audience participation, the lecturers, teachers, and students who joined the conversation and participated in the event creating stunning representations, and to AnimeGO in inviting me to present at the cultural festival!

I look forward to the next stages of my speaking tour for schools and language teaching associations in Victoria and Canberra!

Thanks to Mr Matt Bushell for this beautiful post-masterclass presentation!

Stuart can be booked to present a masterclass at your event from this website!

Guest Speaker at Firstival, A festival of firsts!

Thanks to the City of Marion Libraries in Adelaide, South Australia, for the invitation to speak at their festival event, Firstival, presenting excerpts of my thesis investigations of la bande dessinée franco-belge, specifically language, context, and stereotypes in period French and Belgian comic book literature and children's stories.

Stereotypes in comics can significantly impact global society by shaping perceptions and reinforcing cultural norms. My presentation included discussions on stereotypes, highlighting how comics reflect and influence societal views, potentially perpetuating stereotypes or challenging them to foster a more inclusive understanding of diverse cultures.

Special thanks to the Event Organiser, Jess Harris, for this beautiful post-presentation testimony!

I look forward to the next stage of my speaking tour in Canberra!

That's a wrap!

The WEA education institution boasts a language program larger than any tertiary institution in Adelaide, with 25 languages on offer, and I'm delighted to coordinate the Constructed language program.

The first class for Conlangs ran from March 16 to April 27, and it was very popular, with a waitlist of students eager to register for the next course commencing in the second half of 2024!

The course analysed constructed languages. It classified them into Auxiliary Languages (Auxlangs), such as Esperanto, Ido and Volapük, and Artistically-Constructed Languages (Artlangs), such as Klingon, Quenya, High Valyrian, and Dothraki, providing knowledge in a language such as greetings; introduction, emotion, and a farewell; unique characteristics; and the influence of the language family on global society.

In the images above, I presented a linguistic workshop, Language in Action ©Stuart A Blair, where students learning a second language created a story sequentially and acted out their adventure using the target language.

Thanks to WEA Education Institution for the wonderful post-course testimony!

I am delighted to provide this testimonial for Stuart Blair and his recently concluded course The Wonder of Klingon! Stuart exhibits expertise, creativity, and dedication to his craft and he not only possesses a deep understanding of linguistic theory but also demonstrate a remarkable ability to translate complex concepts into engaging and accessible lessons.

Arathi Raghunathan

Course Coordinator, WEA Education Institution

Head 'em up, move 'em on!

It was a delight to curate an exhibition at the Adelaide Comic Convention and Toy Fair on April 21. The exhibition explored the languages and linguistics of comics in the Wild West, including la bande dessinée franco-belge, showcasing literature and memorabilia from the early 1900s to the present.

Click through via the above image to the Adelaide Comic and Toy Fair website for information about past exhibitions and event updates!

Comic books are a unique medium that combines illustrations and written words to tell stories that reflect cultural concerns and societal transformations.

Throughout the exhibition, I engaged with language teachers and visitors, discussing the use of language in comics, including context, stereotypes, representations, and controversies, and how they have influenced global society as well as using sequential art, improvisation, and drama as communication mediums in the second-language classroom.

 I look forward to an informative and engaging series of presentations during the next stages of my national speaking tour!

AnimeGo, what fun!

The AnimeGO Japan Pop Culture Festival attracted thousands of pop culture fans during the day-long event, as part of the annual Oz Asia Festival on October 29.

I had a fantastic attendance during my linguistic presentation about the influence of Anime and Manga on global society.

Thanks to Mr Matt Bushell for this beautiful testimony post-speaking presentation at AnimeGo Japanese Pop Culture Festival in Adelaide.

Stuart delivered a presentation on Japanese manga and anime and its influence on Western pop culture at our AnimeGO festival in 2023. He is lively, visually entertaining, engaging, and an expert in not only pop culture but also languages and their relationship to culture. Stuart also offered an in-person ‘meet-and-greet’ with the audience after the presentation, which was a great chance for the festival attendees to ask questions.

Matt Bushell
Project manager
AnimeGo
Japanese Pop Culture Festival

Thanks to all who visited my expo stand pre and post-presentation!