Is it a graphic novel or just a comic book?

[Click here to view this message in your web-browser]. Edition: US 28 January 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair] Editor's note This weekend, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world are convening in a town in southwestern France to celebrate an art form we all know but has become more difficult to name. Are they graphic novels or comic books? Joel Priddy, a creator and professor of graphic design at Penn State, walks us through the rich history of this medium, from the [“funnies,” to “Maus,”] to more recent developments. Meanwhile, the overwhelming wave of news, rumors and reported leaks about Donald Trump’s first week as president shows just how complicated it is to manage a [federal workforce of more than 2.8 million civil servants]. “If the president is inattentive to the complexity of this challenge, or fails to understand major federal workforce issues, the consequences could be dramatic,” writes Vanderbilt University professor David Lewis. And our colleagues at The Conversation UK unpack Theresa May’s visit to Washington and re-examine, once again, the “special relationship” between our two countries. Martin LaMonica Deputy Editor, Environment & Energy Editor Top story ‘Maus’ and ‘Watchmen’ are two of the most well-known graphic novels. Ken Whytock/flickr [How the graphic novel got its misleading moniker] Joel Priddy, Pennsylvania State University The graphic novel has become a literary phenomenon, but the name doesn't adequately describe the medium's flexibility, diversity and potential. Politics + Society - [2017 isn't '1984' – it's stranger than Orwell imagined] John Broich, Case Western Reserve University The best selling book on Amazon is '1984' – which was originally published in 1949. A historian from Case Western Reserve University considers how the novel resonates with today's reality. - [Trump takes on federal workforce of 2.8 million that's showing signs of stress] David E. Lewis, Vanderbilt University The president manages more than 200 organizations that make up the federal government. A survey of 3,500 federal managers shows they struggle with recruiting and retaining skilled workers. Science + Technology - [Our psychological biases mean order matters when we judge items in sequence] Robin Kramer, Trent University Whether it's items in a shop, potential speed-dating matches or athletes competing one after another, the order in which they're presented affects our judgments. - [Far beyond crime-ridden depravity, darknets are key strongholds of freedom of expression online] Roderick S. Graham, Old Dominion University; Brian Pitman, Old Dominion University The darknet, like the open internet, is not immune from illegal activity. But many darknet users are there in search of 'hacker ethics' values such as privacy and free speech. - [Overcoming 'cyber-fatigue' requires users to step up for security] Richard Forno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Dulled by hearing the same old recommendations to improve internet security, we are worn out. It's time for a new approach, involving us all. Environment + Energy - [From flask to field: How tiny microbes are revolutionizing big agriculture] Mathew Wallenstein, Colorado State University Researchers are developing biological tools that can boost crop yields to feed a growing world population without harming human health or the environment. - [Mind the gaps: Reducing hunger by improving yields on small farms] Paul West, University of Minnesota How can we feed a growing world population while protecting the environment? One key strategy is to improve yields on small farms, which produce much of the food in the world's hungriest countries. - [Research challenges the view that environmental regulators are anti-business] Sara Rinfret, The University of Montana We may picture regulators tying businesses up in red tape, but research shows that many environmental regulators have collegial relationships with the companies they regulate. Education - [The changing nature of America's irreligious explained] Richard Flory, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Americans are increasingly choosing not to identify with any religious tradition. But this group of irreligious people is a complex one – with different relationships to religion. - [It's true, internet surfing during class is not so good for grades] Susan Ravizza, Michigan State University Laptops in class are distracting – even for the most motivated students. Health + Medicine - [Communities plagued by uninsurance also suffer from breakdowns in trust, social connection] Tara McKay, Vanderbilt University Being uninsured presents major problems, but there are issues that go beyond health care. Communities with large numbers of uninsured have a breakdown in trust. Here's why. - [How a major immigration raid affected infant health] Nicole L. Novak, University of Michigan; Aresha Martinez-Cardoso, University of Michigan The stress of immigration enforcement has implications for health. Economy + Business - [Paid family leave policies are expanding, but are new mothers actually taking time off?] Jay L. Zagorsky, The Ohio State University If President Trump follows through on his campaign promise, new mothers may soon have six weeks of guaranteed paid leave. But something is keeping them from using the benefits they already have. - [As Trump mulls another 'reset' with Russia, he should consider perils of Big Oil diplomacy] Amy Myers Jaffe, University of California, Davis As Trump explores warmer ties to Russia, he'd be wise to brush up on the history of past resets and the role the oil industry played in each one. The results weren’t good. Arts + Culture - [How should you read unnamed sources and leaks?] Anthony Fargo, Indiana University, Bloomington With an explosion of media outlets that don't adhere to mainstream journalistic standards, it's became difficult for readers to know whether to trust reports based on unnamed sources and leaks. Theresa May in America - [Trade deals are difficult to negotiate and Britain lacks the skills for the job] Nigel Driffield, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick Much of the debate around trade deals misses some of the fundamentals of what they actually are and involve. - [The love is lost: why it's time to drop the romance from the special relationship] Sam Edwards, Manchester Metropolitan University The ties between the US and UK have long been depicted in loving terms. But with these two in charge, it can only be a marriage of convenience from now on. - [Theresa May meets Donald Trump: talking up a special relationship to hide problems beneath] Scott Lucas, University of Birmingham It's all smiles as two leaders meet for the first time, but it'll take more than warm words to navigate the choppy waters ahead. [The Conversation on Twitter] [The Conversation on Facebook] You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly]. 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