Murphy's Mission Statement:


The most effective way to engage the student is to begin on a foundation familiar to them. Find their common ground and start building. Whether students analyze the world around them through science-fiction or discover themselves through the creation of a comic narrative, there are multiple paths to the same destination.


Education:



Master's Professional Communication (Weber State University. 2018)

Master's of Arts in English (Weber State University. 2011)

Bachelor's of Science: English (Weber State University. 1996)

Bachelor's of Science: Psychology (Weber State University. 1996)


Awards:



Audience Choice Award "Painting the Apocalypse with MacTavish" (Gangrene Film Festival 2017)

The Outstanding Graduate: Master's of Arts in English (Weber State Class of 2011)

Weber State University Exemplary Collaboration Award (2008)

Audience Choice Award "25 Ways to be Happy" (Gangrene Film Festival 2007)

Campus Activities Board Program of the Year (1994)


Publications:



"Shall I Compare Thee to a Rotting Corpse?" (writer) from the album Zombie Sing-a-Long: Whistler and the Children, Pt. 2 by Craig Nybo, November 15, 2013.

"Zombie or Not Zombie" (writer) from the album Zombie Sing-a-Long Vol. I by Craig Nybo, July 2011.

"On Comics, Genres and Styles: A Conversation with Michael Chabon" Weber: The Contemporary West (volume 27: number 1) Fall 2010. Reprinted in Conversations with Michael Chabon (Literary Conversations Series) by University Press of Mississippi, April 17, 2015

"Dirt." Metaphor, Vol XV. Weber State University. 1996.

"Flying." Metaphor, Vol XIV. Weber State University. 1995. Reprinted for Metaphor's 30th anniversary retrospective section. 2011.


Presentations:



"The Reality of Words" Comic-con International: Comics Arts Conference, San Diego, CA. • Saturday, July 20, 2019 • 12:00p.m. to 12:30p.m. • Room 26AB  

In 2006, Marvel Romance Redux rewrote the scripts to Silver Age romance comics but left the art alone, creating new realities and highlighting the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and demonstrating how language determines the perceived structure of the world.



"Comics Greatest Superheroes!" Treehouse COMICFEST
Treehouse Children's Museum • Saturday, June 16, 2018 • 12:00p.m. to 12:30p.m. • Simmons Storybook Theater

A king among comic collectors and educators, Patrick will present the astounding history comic book, as well as the real world origins of some of the most well-known comic book characters and their creators. Come find out who the comic book's greatest superheroes really are. You can see a selection from Patrick's personal collection of comic art and artifacts on display at the Treehouse in our Gazebo.



"Comics Greatest Villain!" The Way of Writers: Building Worlds with Brandon Mull. Ogden High School • Saturday, October 7, 2017 • 1:15 – 2:00 • Black Box Theater

Who is comics greatest villain? Lex Luthor? The Joker? Doctor Doom? No. The answer is more sinister than you ever imagined. Mere comic-book villains are amateurs to the man whose goal was to bring down the comic-book industry itself. In 1954, a dark army gathered to eradicate America of the ten-cent plague. But who will step up to fight this fearsome force, and how will comics survive? Join the discussion and find out.



"Student-generated Comics." Utah Council of Teachers of English 2014 conference. Jordan Commons • Friday, November 12, 2014

In his keynote presentation at UCTE two years ago, Gene Yang argued that students should not only read comics, but students should also write comics.  Turning Yang’s proposal into concrete unit plans, English teachers Patrick Murphy and Blake Bockholt discuss student-generated comics, with an emphasis on autobiographical and memoir narratives.  Using Scott McCloud’s (Understanding Comics) theoretical framework, Murphy and Bockholt address the challenges and benefits of student-generated comics.


"Shall I compare thee to a Rotting Corpse?" Freestyle Gargoyles 4 - 2016 Halloween Special. Media Rif • Saturday, October 8, 2016 • 8:00

The Freestyle Gargoyles is a group of musicians and published authors. Authors are invited to write and read a short, original story accompanied by a live, completely improvised musical soundtrack. The performance was recorded and taped live before a small studio audience. The program went as follows: James Wymore - "The Thing I Hate." Scott Taylor - "Taxed." Eric Wincentsen - "The Woods Out Back." Patrick Murphy - "Shall I Compare Thee to a Rotting Corpse?" Nathan Shumate - "Bookmobile Day." David J. West - "Stranger Come Knocking."


"Science Fiction as Legitimate Literature." The Way of Words: Building Worlds With Brandon Sanderson. Ogden High School • Saturday, October 8, 2016 • 1:15 – 2:00 • Black Box Theater

What is Literature? What is science fiction? Most importantly -- is science fiction literature? These questions and more will be answered as Patrick Murphy takes on pop culture and defends science fiction's legitimate place in the literary canon. Maybe your guilty pleasure is not so guilty after all.


"The Nerd in the Classroom: Comics as an Educational Tool." Comic-con International. San Diego, CA. • Saturday, July 23, 2016 • 4:00pm - 5:00pm • Shiley Special Events Room, San Diego Central Library

Education's all-things nerd networking resource returns to Comic-Con. This year's edition will have a focus on student-generated comics, with an emphasis on autobiographical and memoir narratives. Learn from experts Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics), Randy Duncan (The Power of Comics: History, Form and Culture), Michael Ray Taylor (Creating Comics as Journalism, Memoir and Nonfiction), and Patrick Murphy (Fremont High/Weber State University).


"The Nerd in the Classroom: Sci-fi as an Educational Tool." Comic-con International. San Diego, CA. • Thursday, July 9, 2015 • 4:00pm - 5:00pm • Shiley Special Events Room, San Diego Central Library

Education's all-things-nerd networking resource returns to Comic-Con. This year's edition features cartoonist and high school computer science teacher Gene Yang (American Born Chinese, Boxers and Saints), language-arts teacher Blake Bockholt (Fremont High), and psychologist Patrick O'Connor (Comicspedia, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology). Moderating is Patrick Murphy (Fremont High, Weber State University). Topics include using comics to convey complex information, student-created comics as a narrative, and aligning to national standards while still increasing student engagement. This is a great networking opportunity for professional educators and nerds alike.


"Holy Argument, Batman: Using Superheroes in the Classroom." Utah Council of Teachers of English 2016 conference. Jordan Common • Friday, November 11, 2016

As Language Arts classrooms increasingly focus on Common Core State Standards, argumentative writing has become pervasive in the secondary classroom.  Our student-friendly breakout session proposal integrates pop-culture in the argumentative writing world by including well-known superheroes and asking the same question every kid has once asked: Who would win in a fight? With Blake Bockholt and David Premont.


"The Nerd in the Classroom: Sci-fi as an Educational Tool." Comic-con International. San Diego, CA. • Saturday July 26, 2014 • 8:00pm - 9:00pm • Room 28DE

Education's all-things-nerd networking resource returns to Comic-Con. This year's after-school-special edition features understanding dyslexia with Max Brooks (The Harlem Hellfighters, World War Z), classroom gamification with Janina Scarlet (Alliant International University), elementary and special education with David Ross (Toronto District School Board), and English with Eric Bailey (Henderson State University). Moderating is Patrick Murphy (Fremont High, Weber State University). Topics include curriculum development strategies, national standards, and increasing student engagement. This is a great networking opportunity for professional educators and nerds alike.


"The Nerd in the Classroom: Sci-fi as an Educational Tool." Comic-con International. San Diego, CA. • Sunday, July 21, 2013 • 10:00am - 11:00am • Room 32AB

Education's all-things-nerd networking resource returns to Comic-Con. This year's edition features Travis Langley (Henderson State University, Batman and Psychology) and Eric Bruce (Western Oregon University) joining Patrick Murphy (Fremont High, Weber State University). Topics include curriculum development strategies, national standards, and increasing student engagement.


"A Postmodern Tour of New York" SLC Nerd. Salt Lake City, UT. • April, 2013

New York is a city of heroes. But while catching a glimpse of a superhuman in action is a rare occasion, it is easy enough to visit the places where these famous fights took place. Join superhero scholar Patrick Murphy as he takes you on a virtual walking tour of New York and see where Namor, the Submariner held the world hostage, look upon the bridge where The Green Goblin threw Gwen Stacy to her death, and experience the moment when Spider-man stopped bank robbers using only Hostess Fruit Pies. All this and more awaits, true believers.


"The Nerd in the Classroom: Sci-fi as an Educational Tool." Comic-con International. San Diego, CA. • Sunday July 15th, 2012 • 3:30pm - 4:30pm • Room 26AB

With a decade of experience teaching science fiction as literature to high school and graduate students, Patrick Murphy (Fremont High, Weber State University) discusses science fiction as a device for improving reading comprehension, critical thinking, and enjoyment. The presentation will include the scope and sequence for a year-long course, unit breakdowns, costs, and discussions examining core standards and end-of-level testing.


“I Walked with a Realist.” 63nd Annual RMMLA Convention.
Snowbird, UT. • October 2009.


Gangrene Film Festival (Writer/Director on all):
2018 (Space Funk) "The Cultist Next Door"
2017 (The Gong Show) "Painting the Apocalypse with MacTavish"
2015 (Full Steam): "Tales that Should Not Be: Madness on Black"
2014 (Esquivel!) "Tales that Should Not Be: Paradise Lost"
2013 (Tuba Q): "Northern Decker University Online "
2012 (Apollo 13): "Shake Hands with D&Danger"
2011 (Size 12): "Cereal Test Trial: Subject 05276B"
2010 (Goes to 11): "A Mundane Roadshow"
2009 (Ten Gallon Hat): "4-Day Weekend"
2008 ($NINE.99): "The Day We All Knew"
2007 (Pieces of 8): "25 Ways to Be Happy"
2006 (Siete): "Art Film Confessions"
2005 (Six-Pack): "Letters"
2004 (Five Golden Rings): "Li'l Cthulhu"



NecronomiCon Film Festival, August 22-25, 2019. Providence, RI:
"The Cultist Next Door"



H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival, October 4-6, 2019, Portland, OR:
"The Cultist Next Door"