This summer, the library at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) is home to a striking display of graphic novels, but not from a new collection. Instead, they are the final projects of a groundbreaking course titled History and the Graphic Novel, where students blended art, family memory, and historical research into visually rich, emotionally powerful narratives.
The course, taught by Associate Professor of History Dr. Karine Walther, challenged 12 students to explore how graphic novels can serve as secondary historical sources. It also asked them to look inward—interviewing family or community members and translating those stories into original, illustrated novels.
“Graphic novels can show history, not just describe it,” said Mohamed Jaski, a senior culture and politics major. “There’s a unique emotional weight when you see history unfold through art.”
The course, which ran in the spring 2025 semester, offered more than academic insight. For many students, it became a personal journey. Jaski’s novel Maryam, for example, explored grief and trauma shaped by war, shifting from colourful superhero-style panels to stark monochrome as the story progressed.
To support the technical aspects of their work, students received hands-on training in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and AI-based design tools during a workshop led by Robert Laws, Associate Director of the Library. Jaski, who also worked as a student assistant in GU-Q’s Innovation Lab, helped peers polish and refine their artwork using the lab’s creative software and equipment.
Dr. Walther, recently named “Faculty Member of the Year” at GU-Q’s Tropaia awards, praised the students’ creative engagement. “They were the ones who made this class all that it could be,” she said. “Seeing them take ownership of the history-making process is always the best part.”
In a testament to the course’s success, the final exhibit of student work was held in the GU-Q Library, which had become a de facto studio during the course. “The library was a central hub for creativity and collaboration,” said Jaski. “It was more than a place for books—it became our workspace, gallery, and think tank.”
Library Coordinator Mirta Lendić played a key role, organizing the exhibit and ensuring each novel was printed, bound, and displayed professionally. The GU-Q bookstore also printed copies of the student novels, which were gifted to each participant.
Despite taking place during a busy graduation season, the exhibition drew strong attendance from students and staff alike. “We all showed up during graduation week,” Jaski said. “It shows how much this class meant to us.”
The History and the Graphic Novel course not only gave students tools to explore the past in new ways—it also showed how storytelling can be both a scholarly and deeply personal act. For Georgetown’s students, history came alive not just on the page, but in ink and image.
