Sam Orchard - New Zealand Cartoons and Comics Archive

This podcast features an interview with Sam Orchard, Assistant Curator of Cartoons and Comics at the Alexander Turnbull Library, conducted by Gareth Watkins. The recording delves into the history and evolution of the New Zealand Cartoons and Comics Archive, the representation of rainbow communities in this medium, and the changing landscape of cartoons and comics from the 1990s to the 2020s.

The archive started on April 1st, 1992, and originally consisted solely of editorial cartoons from newspapers, but has since expanded its scope to include comics as well. The reason for this expansion was due to a noted decrease in editorial cartoons driven by the consolidation of media and a rise in digital newspapers, which affected the careers of cartoonists. Conversely, comics in New Zealand were experiencing a surge, with numerous artists exploring a variety of new and diverse stories that were not being captured by any archives, prompting an extension to the archive's collection mandate.

Orchard describes the differences between editorial cartoons, more common one-panel topical pieces found in newspapers, and comics, which cover a broader range that includes comic strips, comic books, web comics, zines, autobiographical comics, and graphic novels. This illustrates the rich and diverse forms of storytelling encompassed within the medium.

The podcast touches on the significance of the collection, which includes over 60,000 items, underscoring the importance of cartoons and comics in reflecting societal values, controversies, and marginalized voices. Orchard talks about the day-to-day duties of being a curator and the challenges associated with managing and expanding the collection.

A considerable portion of the interview focuses on the representation of rainbow communities within the archive and how comics offer a space for queer expression. Historically underrepresented, these communities have found comics to be an accessible, low-cost medium for sharing their stories and subverting mainstream culture.

Orchard emphasizes the archive's commitment to collect even problematic material, seeing such items as "important receipts" reflective of societal attitudes at specific times, including cartoons that may contain racism, homophobia, or transphobia.

The podcast also discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the collection and the role of comics as educational tools during the pandemic, showing how both the contents and collecting process have adapted in these times.

In terms of future efforts, Orchard shares aspirations to make the collection more inclusive through community consultation, outreach to diverse artists, collecting contemporary comics, particularly from marginalized groups, and adjusting to changes dictated by the pandemic.

The interview concludes with a deeper appreciation of how language within comics captures the essence of changing societal norms and attitudes and the unique power this medium holds for sharing experiences, advocating for change, and preserving history.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Sam Orchard

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