The University of Southern Mississippi hosted acclaimed author and artist Kristen Radtke on Tuesday, March 19th as part of the Honors Forum speaker series. Radtke, whose graphic memoir “Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness” garnered widespread critical praise, discussed her introspective exploration of isolation and disconnection in modern society, especially commenting on American individualism.
The event, held in Bennett Auditorium, began with Radtke providing an overview of her book’s premise – using her own experiences as a launching point to dive into the psychology, history, and societal forces contributing to an epidemic of loneliness. She read excerpts from the work, her words accompanied by projected images of her insightful comic panels and illustrations.
Radtke’s book explores the topic of loneliness and isolation in American society through Radtke’s own experiences as well as historical and scientific research. It’s part personal narrative, part journalistic exploration. She looks at how factors like modern architecture, urban design, technology use, and the dismantling of communal third spaces have contributed to people feeling disconnected and isolated, even when surrounded by others. Radtke interweaves scientific studies with first-person accounts from people of various backgrounds grappling with chronic loneliness. Her illustrations and comic panels bring out the life in the book.
“Loneliness isn’t necessarily tied to whether you have a partner or a best friend or an aspirationally active social life,” Radtke told the audience. “It’s a variance that rests in the space between the relationships you have and the relationships you want. Loneliness lives in the gap. I want us to use loneliness—yours, and mine—to find our way back to each other.”
Following her presentation, Radtke fielded questions from students, faculty, and community members in attendance. Queries ranged from her creative process to deeper philosophical discussions about the crisis of social isolation. Radtke provided thoughtful and candid answers about the deeply personal yet universally resonant themes she explores.
After the Q&A, Radtke participated in a book signing for fans eager to have their copies of “Seek You” permanently inscribed by the author herself. She also drew personalized cartoons in the book for all the people who participated in the book signing. Copies of the memoir were available for purchase courtesy of the Barnes and Noble on campus.
“The forum was very informative and resonated very much with my position at USM as an international student,” said Kaitochukwu Chukwuka, a sophomore Honors Scholar after the event. “I really liked how she said to stress the difference between being alone and being lonely. I feel that it is really deep and conversations like this really make us question our relationship with others, personality, behavior, and everything. I wonder what the hope for lonely people could be.”
The evening concluded with a reception in Radtke’s honor at the Honor House on the USM campus. Attendees had the chance to mingle with the writer while enjoying light refreshments that celebrated her insightful and culturally relevant work. As the Honors Forum’s hosted Radtke, it continues the speaker series’ mission of bringing engaging, interdisciplinary voices to engage the Southern Miss community.
