I. Purpose

The ICLA Research Committee (RC) on Comics Studies and Graphic Narrative (CSGN) is a Standing Research Committee (SRC) of the International Comparative Literature Association (ICLA). The purpose of the RC is to participate in and support scholarship regarding all forms of graphic narrative emerging from the long history of comics, bandes dessinées, Bildergeschichten, manga, manhwa, anime, animation, cartoons, and other visual narrative media. This comparative field includes literary, narratological and semiotic analyses, media studies, and other disciplines related to linguistics and visual studies.

II. Membership

Membership in the RC is open to scholars who have a demonstrated interest in CSGN, attend an RC-organized event, contribute to a member’s publication opportunity (i.e., edited volume or journal issue), and/or attend at least one of the RC’s meetings.

Members should remain active with the RC by contributing to or hosting at least one committee-sponsored event or activity within a three-year span (e.g., the triennial Congress).

Members are asked to contribute an annual fee to support the RC’s website, which provides each member with a profile page related to their CSGN research. The annual fee is currently established at €10 (around $10/¥1500).

III. Leadership

A. Co-Chairs (3)

1. Duties

a. Advocacy. Direct the RC’s activities and protect the group’s interest both inside and outside the association.

b. Responsiveness. Address members’ concerns in a timely and effective manner and provide a guaranteed, equitable opportunity to have those concerns heard and addressed.

c. Reporting. Coordinate reports necessary to submit to the ICLA Executive Committee (EC) and attend ICLA EC meetings. At least one co-chair with voting or proxy permission must attend the EC meetings to ensure the interests of the RC and its mission.

d. Organization. Delegate tasks among membership and create new roles as necessary to meet RC goals or deadlines. If such positions are to become a permanent and not ad hoc role within the RC, then co-chairs will bring the need for this role to the membership for at-large consideration.

e. Communication. Prepare agendas for membership meetings to be held at least once per year and arrange virtual meeting links. Co-chairs direct such meetings and work to promote consensus among members.

2. Service

a. The Co‑Chairs serve staggered three‑year terms in order to ensure continuity of information. They are elected and re-elected by the at-large membership.

b. Each term may be renewed, preferably no more than once consecutively.

c. At least one co‑chair must be non‑tenured at the time of election. To maintain this balance, at least one sitting co‑chair who has already served one term should not run for re‑election, unless no non‑tenured scholar stands for election.

d. If a co‑chair steps down, the full RC will be consulted to select a replacement. The replacement completes the remainder of the term and is then eligible to run for a full term as defined in 2.a and 2.b.

B. Secretary (1)

1. Duties

a. Record-Keeping. Attends all the RC’s EC meetings to prepare summaries and gather information necessary for ICLA reports. Keeps an up-to-date, shared file of these and other RC documents as a working archive.

b. Information-Sharing. Coordinates with other RC leadership to provide timely information and updates, including meeting minutes, to the membership at large. Summarizes leadership actions taken to be shared with other EC leadership and membership.

c. Organization. Coordinates with RC leadership and prepares agendas for EC meetings and provides timely email reminders to members in advance of annual membership meetings.

d. Communication. In coordination with the co-chairs, attends to all incoming and outgoing correspondence, including maintaining a current record and email list of the RC membership.

e. Publication. The Secretary shall ensure that all approved initiatives and calls for papers the membership shares for dissemination are promptly forwarded to the Website Manager and Social Media Manager for official publication on the RC’s digital platforms.

2. Service

a. Serves for a term of three years, renewable. All members are eligible to run for this position when it is vacant either through term limits or the secretary relinquishing the post.

b. The secretary should provide ample notice to the chairs that they are stepping down prior to the end of their term so that the position can be advertised within the membership and there is minimal disruption to the duties.

C. Communications Officer (1)

1. Duties

a. Content Management and Publication. Oversee the submission, review, editing, and publication of RC blog content, ensuring adherence to established style guides, legal requirements (including copyright and data privacy), and organizational standards. This includes maintaining the blog's content calendar.

b. Communication with Academic Content Contributors. Serve as the primary liaison with blog contributors, website administrators, and other relevant parties, managing correspondence and soliciting content.

c. Legal and Compliance Oversight. Ensure all blog content and related activities comply with applicable legal and ethical standards. This includes documenting rejection decisions and maintaining necessary records. 

d. Content Preparation and Delivery. Prepare and organize all necessary materials for publication, including files, and blurbs, ensuring timely delivery to website administrators and social media coordinators.

e. Reporting and Process Development. Develop and maintain efficient workflow protocols, propose special themes, set deadlines, and provide regular reports to the committee on blog output, challenges, and proposed improvements.

f. Communication and Representation. The Communications Officer must clearly distinguish between communications made as a representative of the committee and personal correspondence. They are not responsible for composing formal public communications, such as calls for papers, bylaws, formal announcements, or information regarding the committee's governance, which are the responsibility of the executive committee.

g. Point of Contact. The Communications Officer, alongside the Secretary, shall serve as a designated point of contact for members to submit initiatives, calls for papers, and related academic proposals for RC review and dissemination. The Communication Officer shall liaise with the Website Manager and the Social Media Manager to ensure the timely uploading and dissemination of such member-submitted content, providing all necessary materials for public release.

2. Service

a. Serves for a term of three years, renewable. All members are eligible to run for this position when it is vacant either through term limits or the Communications Officer relinquishing the post.

b. The Communications Officer should provide ample notice to the chairs that they are stepping down so that the position can be advertised within the membership and there is minimal disruption to the duties.

D. Social Media Manager (1)

1. Duties

a. Content Management and Platform Oversight. The Social Media Manager shall manage the posting, editing, and curation of content across all official RC social media platforms. This includes maintaining account connections, cross-posting, and linking relevant content from collaborators and approved sources, such as the RC’s website and regular interaction with the Communications Officer and Website Manager.

b. Community Interaction and Moderation. The Social Media Manager is responsible for responding to or managing comments on social media posts, with the discretion to establish a “no response policy” for irrelevant or redundant inquiries.They shall moderate social media platforms, including blocking problematic users, and may implement a “block first” policy to maintain a safe and productive online environment. A “do-not-contact” list (blacklist) of blocked or problematic identities may be maintained. Recurring problems with disruptive users should be brought to the co-chairs’ attention immediately.

c. Financial and Administrative Duties. The Social Media Manager shall record all fees, costs, and accounting related to social media accounts, maintaining a detailed spreadsheet of account information so that timely payment can be arranged. They will maintain all account login information in a secure location and maintain a shared cloud folder for media storage.

d. Crisis Management and Data Privacy. In the event of a data breach, hack, or sudden change in platform policy that poses a risk to the account, the Social Media Manager has the authority to immediately shut down the affected account and report this action to the co-chairs immediately. They are responsible for censoring any photos, audio, or text that violate data privacy requirements, such as GDPR.

e. Communication and Representation. The Social Media Manager must clearly distinguish between communications made as a representative of the committee and personal correspondence. They are not responsible for composing formal public communications, such as calls for papers, bylaws, formal announcements, or information regarding the committee's governance, which are the responsibility of the executive committee.

2. Service

a. Serves for a term of three years, renewable. All members are eligible to run for this position when it is vacant either through term limits or the Social Media Manager relinquishing the post.

b. The Social Media Manager should provide ample notice to the chairs that they are stepping down so that the position can be advertised within the membership and there is minimal disruption to the duties.

E. Website Manager (1)

1. Duties

a. Maintains and updates website content. This includes posting news, events, calls for papers, blog content, publications, and other relevant information provided from the members which has been finalized by the Communications Officer. Ensures accuracy, consistency, and timely updates to reflect the organization’s activities and mission.

b. Ensures website functionality and security. Monitors the website’s performance, troubleshoots technical issues, manages software updates, and monitors security measures to protect against unauthorized access or data breaches. This involves coordinating with a hosting service or technical support.

c. Manages website design and user experience. Oversees the website's visual presentation and user interface to ensure it is professional, accessible, and user-friendly. This includes maintaining a consistent design aesthetic and optimizing the website for various devices and browsers.

d. Facilitates website-related communication. Acts as the primary point of contact for website-related inquiries from members and the public. This may involve responding to emails, managing website contact forms, and providing technical support to users.

e. Personnel management. Oversees and coordinates any website assistants who help with editing and updating relevant academic content or member profiles, or completing other assigned tasks.

2. Service

a. The term of service for this role currently is indefinite and provided in-house. This role may be modified in the future. The Website Manager welcomes the interest/ability of other members and/or the interest of young scholars, particularly interns and graduate students, to grow their web content and management skills by working as a website assistant.

F. Event Programme Committee (various, to include at least one non-tenured member).

1. Duties

a. Organization. Help organize the RC’s panels at conferences like the triennial ICLA Congresses.

b. Coordination. Serve as liaison between the RC and the host organization.

c. Promotion. Generate ideas/support for graduate students and participants from historically underrepresented groups who will be presenting/attending at the Congress/event. 

2. Service

a. The nature of this committee is variable, depending on the nature, location, and occasion of events. Therefore, the committee members serve in a temporary and ad hoc capacity. The term of service is conditional upon the nature of the event and includes pre- and post-event duties. Each committee member is expected to participate in the event itself unless financial or other exigencies preclude their attendance. 

IV. Elections

Elections for all positions will be held by electronic ballot, not in-meeting vote, to accommodate the membership’s international makeup and anonymity.

V. Amending the Bylaws

Any by-law amendments will be voted upon via electronic ballot, not in-meeting vote, to accommodate the membership’s international makeup and anonymity.

Approved March 2025.