The portrayal of terrorism in the medium of comic books has increased exponentially since the beginning of the 21st Century, notably since the September 11th, 2001 attacks in the United States. While combating terrorists and terrorist organizations and defending Western ideals such as freedom and democracy have been thematic in comic books since the early editions of Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and other classics, it is only throughout the last decade that researchers have noticed a new way of combating terrorism by deploying comic books. This concept, espoused as "Jihadi Cool" by University of Michigan anthropologist Scott Atran, discusses ways in which terrorist recruits' idols (such as Osama bin Laden) must be discredited and that the 'cool factor' of jihad and terrorism can begin to be reversed.
In essence, there are two main views on why comic books have become a hot button issue in terrorism. Comic books are used by terrorist organizations to recruit and train the next generation of suicide bomber or by governments and public institutions to educate people around the dangers of terrorism and the corruption of impressionable minds that can occur without the proper education.
They are used as an effective recruiting tool, showcasing the perceived benefits of terrorism and in some cases providing a manual of sorts or listing methods for carrying out terror attacks. On the other side, comic books can be used to communicate with readers on the dangers of terrorism, the downside of participating in terrorist activities, and ways to combat terrorism. In both cases, however, comic books are serving as another propaganda medium, just as television, books or radio announcements might be.
Perpetuating terrorism
Propaganda and other informational/promotional materials used by terrorist groups to recruit and train new members while also using them to justify terrorist acts.
Combating terrorism
Using comic books as an educational tool in order to reach impressionable people in different countries.
Current examples
Captain Jihad
Out of Jakarta, Indonesia comes the story of a former al-Qaida linked militant, Nasir Abas. Abas has become one of Indonesia's most instrumental anti-terrorism allies and the success story has been one worth retelling. Captain Jihad begins as a story chronicling Abas' childhood at an Islamic boarding school and his involvement in fighting Western forces in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Abas was heavily involved in Jemaah Islamiyah, whose main goal was to create an Islamic state.
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members were heavily involved in the bombing of two Bali nightclubs in 2002 and Abas was arrested in 2003 following a security sweep the followed. Abbas ultimately ended up provided valuable intelligence to Indonesian authorities about Jemaah Islamiyah, leading a weakening of the group overall. The comic book, which chronicles his transformation from terrorist to "hero" has proved a hit with children and over 10,000 copies have been printed so far.
The 99
The 99 is a comic book written about a group of superheroes based on Islamic culture and religion. Created by Kuwaiti psychologist Naif Al-Mutawa, these comics were published in May 2006 in the Middle East and then in the United States in 2007. The series is based on the historical events surrounding the attack on the ancient city of Baghdad in 1258 A.D. by the Mongol Army and the struggle to save the 99 attributes of Allah.
The overall goal of The 99 is a promotion of morals, values and traditions of Islam throughout the Muslim World.
Holly Terror
Frank Miller's Holy Terror graphic novel started off as a story in which Batman fought Al-Qaeda, but the project left DC Comics and the main character was redesigned and renamed The Fixer.
Pigman
Bosch Fawstin's graphic novel tells the story of two brothers, one of whom is a fundamentalist Moslem, through a comic-within-a-comic in which a superhero called Pigman fights terrorists.
In essence, there are two main views on why comic books have become a hot button issue in terrorism. Comic books are used by terrorist organizations to recruit and train the next generation of suicide bomber or by governments and public institutions to educate people around the dangers of terrorism and the corruption of impressionable minds that can occur without the proper education.
They are used as an effective recruiting tool, showcasing the perceived benefits of terrorism and in some cases providing a manual of sorts or listing methods for carrying out terror attacks. On the other side, comic books can be used to communicate with readers on the dangers of terrorism, the downside of participating in terrorist activities, and ways to combat terrorism. In both cases, however, comic books are serving as another propaganda medium, just as television, books or radio announcements might be.
Perpetuating terrorism
Propaganda and other informational/promotional materials used by terrorist groups to recruit and train new members while also using them to justify terrorist acts.
Combating terrorism
Using comic books as an educational tool in order to reach impressionable people in different countries.
Current examples
Captain Jihad
Out of Jakarta, Indonesia comes the story of a former al-Qaida linked militant, Nasir Abas. Abas has become one of Indonesia's most instrumental anti-terrorism allies and the success story has been one worth retelling. Captain Jihad begins as a story chronicling Abas' childhood at an Islamic boarding school and his involvement in fighting Western forces in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Abas was heavily involved in Jemaah Islamiyah, whose main goal was to create an Islamic state.
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members were heavily involved in the bombing of two Bali nightclubs in 2002 and Abas was arrested in 2003 following a security sweep the followed. Abbas ultimately ended up provided valuable intelligence to Indonesian authorities about Jemaah Islamiyah, leading a weakening of the group overall. The comic book, which chronicles his transformation from terrorist to "hero" has proved a hit with children and over 10,000 copies have been printed so far.
The 99
The 99 is a comic book written about a group of superheroes based on Islamic culture and religion. Created by Kuwaiti psychologist Naif Al-Mutawa, these comics were published in May 2006 in the Middle East and then in the United States in 2007. The series is based on the historical events surrounding the attack on the ancient city of Baghdad in 1258 A.D. by the Mongol Army and the struggle to save the 99 attributes of Allah.
The overall goal of The 99 is a promotion of morals, values and traditions of Islam throughout the Muslim World.
Holly Terror
Frank Miller's Holy Terror graphic novel started off as a story in which Batman fought Al-Qaeda, but the project left DC Comics and the main character was redesigned and renamed The Fixer.
Pigman
Bosch Fawstin's graphic novel tells the story of two brothers, one of whom is a fundamentalist Moslem, through a comic-within-a-comic in which a superhero called Pigman fights terrorists.
Ismay Johnston (born April 5, 1976 in Dunedin, New Zealand) is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role as Hayley in Power Rangers: Dino Thunder.
Johnston also played the part of Julia in two 2008 episodes (64 and 65) of the New Zealand television soap opera Shortland Street.
Films
* Scary Movie 2 (2001)
* 30 Days of Night (2007)
* This Is Not a Love Story (2007) acted as Bookstore Attendant
TV Work
* Power Rangers: Dino Thunder (2004) acted as Hayley
* Power Rangers: Ninja Storm episode Good Will Hunter (2003) acted as TV Announcer
Trivia
* Ismay is 5'7".
* She is an award winning skilled horse rider.
* She appeared in many New Zealand television shows as well as films and on stage.
Johnston also played the part of Julia in two 2008 episodes (64 and 65) of the New Zealand television soap opera Shortland Street.
Films
* Scary Movie 2 (2001)
* 30 Days of Night (2007)
* This Is Not a Love Story (2007) acted as Bookstore Attendant
TV Work
* Power Rangers: Dino Thunder (2004) acted as Hayley
* Power Rangers: Ninja Storm episode Good Will Hunter (2003) acted as TV Announcer
Trivia
* Ismay is 5'7".
* She is an award winning skilled horse rider.
* She appeared in many New Zealand television shows as well as films and on stage.
Raan-e-Niloufer or Niloufer Raan is a Hyderabadi Lamb's Leg Preparation named after the Very Beautiful Princess Niloufer. Princess Niloufer the last Princess of the Ottoman Empire and the Daughter-in-law of the Last Nizam of Hyderabad was quite a Socialite and Loved her Food.
It is a well Known fact that the Last Nizam of Hyderabad was quite a foodie himself and always prompted his Khansabas (Cooks) to create something new. He often told his Khansabas that the British used several cooking sauces in their food which made it quite different from the Local Cuisine.
So once when the Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan wished to eat a Roasted Leg of Lamb, The cooks crafted a Dish using both Indian Spices and Imported Sauces like the Tomato Ketchup and Worcestershire Sauce.
Princess Niloufer however didn't like too much Sweetness in her food and often had the dishes altered. Keeping this in mind in 2007 Chef Afzal Ali an Expert in the Local Hyderabadi Cuisine and Belonging to the Family of Nawab Suryar Jung created a Leg Preparation with a Balance of Aromatic Spices and English Sauces and named it after her Highness Princess Niloufer.
The Raan-e-Niloufer is Served with Saute Boiled Vegetables in Butter and Garnished with a fresh Bunch of Parsley.
It is a well Known fact that the Last Nizam of Hyderabad was quite a foodie himself and always prompted his Khansabas (Cooks) to create something new. He often told his Khansabas that the British used several cooking sauces in their food which made it quite different from the Local Cuisine.
So once when the Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan wished to eat a Roasted Leg of Lamb, The cooks crafted a Dish using both Indian Spices and Imported Sauces like the Tomato Ketchup and Worcestershire Sauce.
Princess Niloufer however didn't like too much Sweetness in her food and often had the dishes altered. Keeping this in mind in 2007 Chef Afzal Ali an Expert in the Local Hyderabadi Cuisine and Belonging to the Family of Nawab Suryar Jung created a Leg Preparation with a Balance of Aromatic Spices and English Sauces and named it after her Highness Princess Niloufer.
The Raan-e-Niloufer is Served with Saute Boiled Vegetables in Butter and Garnished with a fresh Bunch of Parsley.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Wayne State University has 30 faculty members. It is a part of WSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The department offers academic programs leading to the B.A., B.S., and Ph.D. degrees. The WSU Department of Physics and Astronomy is a major focus for research activities with annual R&D expenditures of over $6 million.
Faculty and faculty awards
Among the faculty are six NSF CAREER Award winners, one PECASE award winner, one United States Department of Energy (DOE) Outstanding Junior Investigator, one Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow, and six American Physical Society Fellows.
Research
Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty pursue vigorous research programs in applied physics, astrophysics, atomic physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, high energy physics, and nuclear physics.
Current international research projects include
* A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) collaboration at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. WSU's area of responsibility was a construction of electromagnetic calorimeter and data analysis.
* Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. WSU's area of responsibility is commissioning and operation of the cathode strip chambers for CMS muon detectors and data analysis.
* STAR detector collaboration at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA. WSU lead international effort in construction of electromagnetic calorimeter and silicon vertex detector components of STAR, as well as participated in data analysis.
* Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL, USA.
* Belle experiment (Belle-II) at High Energy Accelerator Research Organisation (KEK) in Tsukuba, Japan.
The department promotes research participation for both graduate and undergraduate students. The department's National Science Foundation-supported Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program has been in operation for over 15 years.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Science in Physics Program
The Bachelor of Science degree in Physics program offers two options. The general physics option is primarily for students who intend to go on to graduate studies in physics. It also satisfies the requirements of industrial and government employers who demand a traditional education in physics. The applied physics option is intended to provide training which is required for a variety of applied fields and to provide the essential understanding of the physical foundations of those fields. It combines training in fundamental physics with courses in other areas such as biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, and mathematics. A Physics Honors program is also available.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Physics Program
The biomedical physics program deals with applications of physics to questions of biology and medicine. It is an interdisciplinary program, combining courses from physics, biology and medicine. It is designed to train students to use quantitative, physical science inspired approaches to problems of the life sciences. This program prepares students for careers or graduate studies in biophysics, medicine, biomedical engineering, medical physics or any other field requiring physical and technological approaches to medical or biological questions. A Biomedical Physics Honors program is also available.
Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy
The Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy program is intended to provide students with foundational knowledge in astronomy, including contemporary developments such as the problems of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. Students graduating with a B.A. in astronomy will have strong scientific preparation for entry-level jobs or advanced degree programs in a broad spectrum of disciplines including business, education, law, and social and physical sciences.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers full programs of graduate study leading to M.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in physics. Research specializations are offered in the theoretical and experimental areas of applied physics, astrophysics, atomic physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, high energy physics, and nuclear physics.
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External Activities
The department hosts the only operating Planetarium in the city of Detroit.
Notable People
Henry V. Bohm , formerly an Emeritus Professor. President of Argonne Universities Association, the governing board for Argonne National Laboratory from 1977 to 1983.
Sean Gavin . Professor. 2004 US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) awardee.
Suraj N. Gupta, an Emeritus Professor, notable for his contributions to quantum field theory. Best known for developing the Gupta-Bleuler formalism of field quantization.
Faculty and faculty awards
Among the faculty are six NSF CAREER Award winners, one PECASE award winner, one United States Department of Energy (DOE) Outstanding Junior Investigator, one Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow, and six American Physical Society Fellows.
Research
Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty pursue vigorous research programs in applied physics, astrophysics, atomic physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, high energy physics, and nuclear physics.
Current international research projects include
* A Large Ion Collider Experiment (ALICE) collaboration at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. WSU's area of responsibility was a construction of electromagnetic calorimeter and data analysis.
* Compact Muon Solenoid experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. WSU's area of responsibility is commissioning and operation of the cathode strip chambers for CMS muon detectors and data analysis.
* STAR detector collaboration at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA. WSU lead international effort in construction of electromagnetic calorimeter and silicon vertex detector components of STAR, as well as participated in data analysis.
* Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) experiment at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL, USA.
* Belle experiment (Belle-II) at High Energy Accelerator Research Organisation (KEK) in Tsukuba, Japan.
The department promotes research participation for both graduate and undergraduate students. The department's National Science Foundation-supported Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program has been in operation for over 15 years.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Science in Physics Program
The Bachelor of Science degree in Physics program offers two options. The general physics option is primarily for students who intend to go on to graduate studies in physics. It also satisfies the requirements of industrial and government employers who demand a traditional education in physics. The applied physics option is intended to provide training which is required for a variety of applied fields and to provide the essential understanding of the physical foundations of those fields. It combines training in fundamental physics with courses in other areas such as biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, and mathematics. A Physics Honors program is also available.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Physics Program
The biomedical physics program deals with applications of physics to questions of biology and medicine. It is an interdisciplinary program, combining courses from physics, biology and medicine. It is designed to train students to use quantitative, physical science inspired approaches to problems of the life sciences. This program prepares students for careers or graduate studies in biophysics, medicine, biomedical engineering, medical physics or any other field requiring physical and technological approaches to medical or biological questions. A Biomedical Physics Honors program is also available.
Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy
The Bachelor of Arts in Astronomy program is intended to provide students with foundational knowledge in astronomy, including contemporary developments such as the problems of dark matter and dark energy in the universe. Students graduating with a B.A. in astronomy will have strong scientific preparation for entry-level jobs or advanced degree programs in a broad spectrum of disciplines including business, education, law, and social and physical sciences.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers full programs of graduate study leading to M.S., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in physics. Research specializations are offered in the theoretical and experimental areas of applied physics, astrophysics, atomic physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, high energy physics, and nuclear physics.
</div>
External Activities
The department hosts the only operating Planetarium in the city of Detroit.
Notable People
Henry V. Bohm , formerly an Emeritus Professor. President of Argonne Universities Association, the governing board for Argonne National Laboratory from 1977 to 1983.
Sean Gavin . Professor. 2004 US Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) awardee.
Suraj N. Gupta, an Emeritus Professor, notable for his contributions to quantum field theory. Best known for developing the Gupta-Bleuler formalism of field quantization.