Kate Beaton’s “Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands”
With the first graphic novel to win the Canada Reads competition, we drill deep into the complex meanings and commentaries that inform Kate Beaton’s graphic memoir.
An Introduction to “Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands”
“Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands” by Kate Beaton was published by Drawn & Quarterly in 2022. This memoir of the Cape Breton-born Beaton’s experiences working in the Alberta oil fields is her first extended work of non-fiction & garnered immediate, widespread critical praise. 1/9
You can also jump ahead to specific threads. Here’s a full list of topics:
An Introduction to “Ducks”
“Ducks” in the Context of Life Writing
“Ducks” and the Transition from Webcomic to Graphic Novel
Rape Culture in “Ducks”
Environmental Impact on Individuals in “Ducks”
Representing the Unrepresentable in “Ducks”
The Poignant Coffee Shop Scene in “Ducks”
Plus! This unit has videos. Watch below or on YouTube!