Black Nerds Pleasure Reading Choices: Race, Representation and Prosocial Skills

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dc.contributor.advisorSanders, Leslie
dc.contributor.advisorChakarborty, Kabita
dc.contributor.authorSeow, Janet Rosemarie
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-08T15:47:58Z
dc.date.available2022-08-08T15:47:58Z
dc.date.copyright2022-03-11
dc.date.issued2022-08-08
dc.date.updated2022-08-08T15:47:58Z
dc.degree.disciplineHumanities
dc.degree.levelDoctoral
dc.degree.namePhD - Doctor of Philosophy
dc.description.abstractNot much is known about what African Canadian Black youth read for pleasure. The subject of this study is a group of young people who belong to the Black nerd subculture (aka Blerds) of urban Toronto. The participants are between 16 and 25 years of age and identify as predominantly working class. Research conducted with this group reveals that graphic novels, fan fiction, traditional comics and webcomics are their main reading choices. Participatory research is used to understand how these texts are read and their implications for race, representation and prosocial skills and values. Although there are common threads among all Blerds, this study adopts and adapts youth subcultural theory and intersectional theory to understand the unique interest, sense of belonging, morals and values of Blerds in the specific location of urban Toronto. Since research on the Blerd subculture is limited, the study's findings provide insights into the Blerd culture and Black youth's perspectives about living in multiracial, multicultural Toronto.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/39602
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectEthnic studies
dc.subject.keywordsBlerds
dc.subject.keywordsComics
dc.subject.keywordsGraphic novels
dc.subject.keywordsManga
dc.subject.keywordsAfrofuturism
dc.subject.keywordsCosplay
dc.subject.keywordsParticipatory research
dc.titleBlack Nerds Pleasure Reading Choices: Race, Representation and Prosocial Skills
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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