Alison Bechdel Biography | Wiki
Alison Bechdel is a popular American cartoonist, Author of Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, and the comic strip Dykes. She is also recognized for originating the Bechdel test. Previously known for the long-running comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, Alison came to critical and commercial excellence in 2006 with her graphic memoir Fun Home, which was later adapted as a musical that received a Tony Award for Best Musical in 2015.
In 2012, Alison published her second graphic memoir Are You My Mother? Alison became a 2014 recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Award. She released another memoir, The Secret to Superhuman Strength, in 2021. She went to Manhattan during the summer of 1981 and applied to many art schools, but was rejected and served in many office jobs in the publishing industry.
Alison Bechdel Age
Alison was born on September 10, 1960, in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, in the United States. She is 63 years old. Alison celebrates her birthday on September 10, every year.
Alison Bechdel Height
She is a woman of above-average stature. Alison stands at a height of 5 ft 9 in ( Approx. 1.75m ).
Alison Bechdel Family
She was born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania the daughter of Helen Augusta (née Fontana) and Bruce Allen Bechdel. Alison’s family was Roman Catholic. Alison’s dad worked as an army veteran who was stationed in West Germany. Bruce was also a high school English educator, serving full-time and operating a funeral home part-time. Alison’s mother served as an actress and teacher. Both of Alison’s parents contributed to her profession as a cartoonist. She has two brothers, Bruce “Christian” Bechdel II and John Bechdel who serves as a keyboard player.
Following her father died in 1980, her mom marketed the family house, in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, the small town where Alison grew up, and shifted to Bellefonte, a less provincial small town near State College with her long-time partner Dr. Robert Fenichel.
Alison Bechdel Mother
Her mother Helen Augusta (née Fontana) served as an actress and teacher. Helen contributed to her profession as a cartoonist. Alison’s mother sold their home after Bruce’s death and went to Bellefonte with her long-time partner Dr. Robert Fenichel.
Alison Bechdel Father | Dad
Alison’s father Bruce Allen Bechdel served as an army veteran who was stationed in West Germany and was also a high school English educator, serving full-time and operating a funeral home part-time. Her dad died in 1980.
Alison Bechdel Siblings
She has two siblings Bruce “Christian” Bechdel II and John Bechdel. Alison’s brother John Bechdel was a keyboard player and served with several bands such as Fear Factory, Ministry, Prong, and Killing Joke.
Alison Bechdel Wife | Partner
Alison is married to her wife Holly Rae Taylor who is a painter. The couple lived for seven and a half years prior to their marriage in July 2015. Alison resides in Bolton, Vermont, in a house she purchased in 1996, adding her own studio to serve in. Before, Alison was married to Amy Rubin. The two married in February 2004, in a civil ceremony in San Francisco, and separated in 2006.
Alison Bechdel Education
She left high school a year early and received her A.A. in 1979 from Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Alison graduated earning a degree in studio arts and art history in 1981 from Oberlin College.
Alison Bechdel Comics | Comic
– Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic (2006)
– Are You My Mother? (2012)
– The Essential Dykes To Watch Out For (2008)
– The Secret to Superhuman Strength (2021)
– Spawn of Dykes to Watch Out For (1993)
– Unnatural Dykes to Watch Out for (1995)
– Split-Level Dykes to Watch Out For (1998)
– New Improved!: Dykes to Watch Out for (1990)
– The Indelible Alison Bechdel: Confessions, Comix, and Miscellaneous Dykes to Watch Out For (1998)
Alison Bechdel Fun Home | Fun Home A Family Tragicomic
In 2006, Alison released Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, an autobiographical “tragicomic” chronicling her childhood and the years prior to and following her dad’s suicide. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic follows both the previous and current concerning the relationship she shares with her parents, in specific her father. In addition, this graphic memoir assists show the difficulties individuals face when coming out. Fun Home has got more widespread mainstream attention than Alison’s earlier work, with reviews in Entertainment Weekly, People, and many features in The New York Times.
Alison Bechdel Are You My Mother | Memoir
In 2012, Alison published her second graphic memoir Are You My Mother? which focuses on her relationship with her mom. This graphic memoir is composed of seven chapters, each introduced by a description of a dream that Alison had. The memoir folds many other works into the story to help illuminate the narrative.
Alison Bechdel Book | New Book
In 2021, Alison released another memoir, The Secret to Superhuman Strength. This new book has six “positive” reviews and eight “rave” reviews, as for the review aggregator Book Marks. In it Alison features the “exercise epoch” of bodybuilding, fitness fads, outdoor sports, as well as the familiarization of Asian martial and healing arts.
Alison Bechdel Test | Test Comic
She is recognized for originating the Bechdel test also called the Bechdel-Wallace test. It is a measure of the representation of women in film and other fiction. It was named after Alison in whose 1985 comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For the test first appeared.
Dykes To Watch Out For Alison Bechdel | Comic Strip
She started a weekly comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For which ran from 1983 until 2008. The comic strip tells the lives, loves, and politics of a fairly diverse group of characters mainly lesbians) living in a medium-sized city in the United States, showing both humorous soap opera storylines and biting topical commentary.
Alison Bechdel Art
She is a visiting artist at The Center for Cartoon Studies. Due to her outstanding contributions to the comic art form, Comics Alliance listed Alison as one of twelve women cartoonists deserving of lifetime achievement recognition.
Alison Bechdel Musical | Fun Home Musical
She rose to critical and commercial success in 2006 due to her graphic memoir Fun Home, which was later adapted as a musical that received a Tony Award for Best Musical in 2015. Fun Home Musical’s closed on September 10, 2016. A US national tour and foreign productions followed.
Alison Bechdel Cartoons
She has been an advisor to learners at The Center for Cartoon Studies, a visiting artist, and a commencement speaker. Besides her comic Dykes to Watch Out For, Alison is the creator of Fun Home (Mariner Books, 2007) and Are You My Mother? (Mariner Books, 2013). In 2007, Fun Home became nominated for the Eisner Awards in two categories—Best Reality-Based Work (which it won) and Best Graphic Album—and Bechdel became nominated as Best Writer/Artist.
Alison Bechdel Fun Home Analysis
Her graphic memoir Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic features her childhood years, prior to and after her father passed away. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic is centered on the relationship between her dad Bruce and her, and she does this by using text and images.
Alison Bechdel Interview
In a 2021 interview, Alison examines her relationship to exercise and, in turn, herself.
Alison Bechdel Quotes
– “Grief takes many forms, including the absence of grief.”
– “It was not a triumphal return. Home, as I had known it, was gone.”
– “Feminism is the theory. Lesbianism is the practice.”
– “What would happen if we spoke the truth?”
– “If there was ever a bigger pansy than my father, it was Marcel Proust.”
– “It’s our very capacity for self-consciousness that makes us self-destructive!”
– “Who embalms the Undertaker when he dies?”
– “She has given me a way out.”
– “Sexual shame is in itself a kind of death.”
Alison Bechdel Amy Rubin
Previously, Alison was married to Amy Rubin who was her girlfriend since 1992. The two married in February 2004, in a civil ceremony in San Francisco. However, California Supreme Court voided all same-sex marriage licenses given by the city at that time. Alison and Amy separated in 2006.
Alison Bechdel The Rule
In the 1985 strip “The Rule,” a character says that she will watch a film only if it has at least two women who talk to each other about a discussion other than men.
Alison Bechdel Gender
She came out as a lesbian at age 19. Alison’s sexuality and gender non-conformity is a large part of the core message of her job and has said that the secret subversive goal of her work is to show that women, not just lesbians, are regular human beings.
Alison Bechdel House
She resides in Bolton, Vermont, in a house she purchased in 1996, adding her own studio to work in.
Alison Bechdel Holly
He married her partner Holly Rae Taylor who is a painter. The two lived for seven and a half years prior to their marriage in July 2015.
Alison Bechdel Vermont
She lives in Bolton, Vermont, and serves with the Vermont-based alternative weekly Seven Days.
Alison Bechdel 2023
As of 2023, her work has spanned several fields: from academics to graphic memoir, to musical theater.
Alison Bechdel 2022
She and Jennifer Hayden made ELLE Grand Prix de la BD 2022 shortlist.
Alison Bechdel Amazon
Her groundbreaking, bestselling graphic memoir charts her fraught association with her late father.
Alison Bechdel Salary
She earns a satisfying amount from her work as a cartoonist, Author of Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, and the comic strip Dykes. She is also recognized for originating the Bechdel test. Alison’s average salary is $87,986 per year.
Alison Bechdel Net Worth
Alison gets her wealth from her work as a cartoonist, Author of Are You My Mother? A Comic Drama, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, and the comic strip Dykes. She is also recognized for originating the Bechdel test. Therefore, Alison has accumulated a decent fortune over the years. Alison’s net worth is $5 million.
How Old Is Alison Bechdel
Alison is a 63-year-old who was born on September 10, 1960, in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Alison celebrates her birthday on September 10, every year.
How Tall Is Alison Bechdel
Alison is a woman of above-average stature who stands at a height of 5 ft 9 in ( Approx. 1.75m ).
Is Alison Bechdel Married
Yes, She married Holly Rae Taylor who is a painter. The two lived for seven and a half years prior to their marriage in July 2015.
Alison Bechdel Social Media Handles
Twitter – @AlisonBechdel
Instagram – alisonbechdel