Marthese Formosa has diverse experience related to project management, training facilitation and educational projects, both short term and long term. Marthese has worked with both local and international NGOs. In the past they worked with Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust and have worked on educating about fair trade and different supply chains; especially of tropical products. They have also worked with the People for Change Foundation, Right To Smile Foundation, We Are – The LGBTQQI+ Youth & Student Organisation, MGRM – Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement, Green House and Kopin – Malta. With Kopin – Malta Marthese has also worked delivering training to students and school staff on migration, the sustainable development goals and sustainable food system. Marthese is currently managing a project about a comic on food supply chains called ‘Salt ‘N’ Pepper’ and the Queer Fiction Anthology ‘Kitba Queer’.
This workshop on queer representation will delve into what makes good representation vs bad representation. We will explore tropes (like ‘kill the gays’ and ‘found family’) and examples from comics and pop-culture and we will suggest some tips on how to write more inclusive stories. Representation matters because minorities feel included, validated and like they matter when done well. When representation is done badly, it could have harmful effects on both the people whose identity is depicted and other viewers. Viewers will take certain stereotypes to be the truth and the only truth and certain outcomes such as being shunned as inevitable. More diverse, better researched representation in stories is needed. So join us to learn more!