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Drawn Together: Comics, Diversity and Stereotypes

The documentary traces the fascinating journey of three comic creators who challenge the notion of race, appearance, and gender stereotypes through cartoons, comics and cosplay. Featuring Keith Knight, Vishavjit Singh and Eileen Alden.

  • Selected in over 52 International Film Festivals
  • Winner of 9 major awards including "BEST Documentary", "Freedom Award" and "Jason D Mak award for Social Justice"
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Teaching Tolerance Article

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With a lively backdrop of superheroes, comic books, and animated comics, Drawn Together: Comics, Diversity and Stereotypes brings together three talented artists—a Sikh, a woman, and an African American—who are challenging the racist stereotyping currently endemic in America through their work.


The documentary provides the rare opportunity to explore the subjects of race, gender, and religion stereotyping through the universally popular medium of comic books and cartoons. Drawn Together boldly encourages viewers to unlearn stereotyping, look beyond the obvious, and confront media prejudices—all through an uncommon and inherently engaging everyday source.


Expert commentary is provided by Professor Arvind Singhal, a Clinton Foundation Fellow and world expert in entertainment education; Andrew Farago, the curator of San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum; and Adam Elrashidi, a cartoonist and a producer at Al Jazeera. They share their thoughts on how to solve the problem of racist stereotyping through changing the stories being told and discuss how the three profiled artists have brought about a groundswell movement to combat the way Americans traditionally look at racist stereotypes.

Partners


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Meet Our Superheroes

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Meet the Experts

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Meet Our Team



Advisor: Gail Silva

Gail was the primary force behind Film Arts Foundation for more than 25 years, first as co-director, then executive director and finally president. Now the veteran advocate for indies has become an indie herself, as advisor, curator and mentor to the field. During her tenure at Film Arts Foundation, Gail co-established the groundbreaking (1984) Fund for Independent Cinema, the Film Arts Foundation’s grant program. She shepherded hundreds of fiscal sponsored projects from conception to completion. Through her work in organizations like NAMAC, INPUT and National Coalition of Independent Public Television Producers she championed the cause of independent media on the national and international level. She co-created (1996) and then curated (2001-2005) TRUE STORIES, the innovative documentary sneak preview series at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Study Guide Consultant: Dr. Becki Cohn-Vargas

Dr. Becki Cohn-Vargas has worked as Director of Not In Our School (NIOS), a bullying and intolerance prevention project of The Working Group. She also has spent over 35 years in public education in California. She was a preschool director in Healdsburg, teacher and principal in the Oakland Unified School District, Elementary Curriculum Director for the Palo Alto Unified School District and Superintendent of the Luther Burbank School District. She has co authored the book Identity Safe Classrooms Places to Belong and Learn.

She also works to develop standards-based curriculum and has developed curriculum and lesson guides. She has presented and coached over 60 schools and colleges across the United States as well as in Germany and Nicaragua. She has been hosted at the White House twice where she briefed President Obama’s education staff. Her efforts have included partnerships with the PTA, NEA, Facing History, and the United Sikhs.