Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands
Abstract This article examines the multifaceted realities of the Oil Sands industry in Kate Beaton’s graphic memoir Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (2022). The visual-verbal narrative of Ducks illustrates how the oil sands serve not only as a backdrop but also as a metaphor for societal structures...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05288-8 |
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| author | Roopalakshmi Velu Rajasekaran V |
| author_facet | Roopalakshmi Velu Rajasekaran V |
| author_sort | Roopalakshmi Velu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This article examines the multifaceted realities of the Oil Sands industry in Kate Beaton’s graphic memoir Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (2022). The visual-verbal narrative of Ducks illustrates how the oil sands serve not only as a backdrop but also as a metaphor for societal structures that marginalize women and perpetuate broader issues such as sexism and mental health neglect. Focusing on the lived experiences of laborers, women in particular, the article engages with the themes of sexism, labor, and environmental degradation endemic to oil boomtowns. Utilizing Rebecca Scherr’s concept of grounding in graphic novels, the article further inspects the intricate relationship between human subjects and their spatial context, revealing how physical environments reflect and reinforce gendered dynamics. Through close inspection of Beaton’s narrative, this article underscores the often-overlooked intersection of environmental degradation and individual suffering, positing that grounding fortifies the narrative’s thematic depth. Ultimately, this paper advocates for a heightened awareness of the intertwined socio-environmental challenges intrinsic to the oil industry, positioning the call for conscientious engagement as paramount in addressing the complexities of contemporary existence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b2f955be26ce487db60db4093d63fb2e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-b2f955be26ce487db60db4093d63fb2e2025-08-20T03:42:26ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-07-0112111210.1057/s41599-025-05288-8Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sandsRoopalakshmi Velu0Rajasekaran V1School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of TechnologySchool of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of TechnologyAbstract This article examines the multifaceted realities of the Oil Sands industry in Kate Beaton’s graphic memoir Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands (2022). The visual-verbal narrative of Ducks illustrates how the oil sands serve not only as a backdrop but also as a metaphor for societal structures that marginalize women and perpetuate broader issues such as sexism and mental health neglect. Focusing on the lived experiences of laborers, women in particular, the article engages with the themes of sexism, labor, and environmental degradation endemic to oil boomtowns. Utilizing Rebecca Scherr’s concept of grounding in graphic novels, the article further inspects the intricate relationship between human subjects and their spatial context, revealing how physical environments reflect and reinforce gendered dynamics. Through close inspection of Beaton’s narrative, this article underscores the often-overlooked intersection of environmental degradation and individual suffering, positing that grounding fortifies the narrative’s thematic depth. Ultimately, this paper advocates for a heightened awareness of the intertwined socio-environmental challenges intrinsic to the oil industry, positioning the call for conscientious engagement as paramount in addressing the complexities of contemporary existence.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05288-8 |
| spellingShingle | Roopalakshmi Velu Rajasekaran V Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands |
| title_full | Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands |
| title_fullStr | Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands |
| title_short | Behind the Mask: A graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands |
| title_sort | behind the mask a graphical autobiography of life and labor in the oil sands |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05288-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT roopalakshmivelu behindthemaskagraphicalautobiographyoflifeandlaborintheoilsands AT rajasekaranv behindthemaskagraphicalautobiographyoflifeandlaborintheoilsands |