Graphic Novel ElementsGraphic Novel Elements

Comics Vocabulary + Comics Vocabulary + StructureStructure

What are Comics (Graphic Novels)?What are Comics (Graphic Novels)?

Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or produce an aesthetic information and/or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. (response in the viewer. (whewwhew!)!)

Sequential ArtSequential Art

Story Telling/ LiteratureStory Telling/ Literature

ReaderReader

NarratorNarrator

JuxtapositionJuxtaposition

Protagonist (Antagonist, etc)Protagonist (Antagonist, etc)

MetaphorMetaphor

SymbolSymbol

more…more…

A Rose by Any Other Name… A Rose by Any Other Name… (different terms/different meanings)(different terms/different meanings)

Dialogue/ Speech BubbleDialogue/ Speech Bubble

Tone (Contents, Presentation – words Tone (Contents, Presentation – words andand pictures)pictures)

Visual ArtVisual Art

PerspectivePerspectiveLineLineShapeShapeTextureTextureShadow/ ShadingShadow/ ShadingStyleStyleNegative Space Negative Space SynestheticsSynesthetics

Martian Alphabet (how visuals carry Martian Alphabet (how visuals carry meaning)meaning)

We have a shared sense of meaning that goes beyond words.We have a shared sense of meaning that goes beyond words.

Which one is Booba? Which is Kiki?Which one is Booba? Which is Kiki?

structure,structure,

layout,layout,

colourcolour

= meaning= meaning

Juliet gets ANGRY!!!Juliet gets ANGRY!!!(Manga Style)(Manga Style)

Other Styles

Line and Shape

Negative SpaceNegative Space

Line and Shape Help Create Mood

ComicsComics

PanelPanel– Panel TransitionsPanel Transitions

GutterGutterClosureClosureDealing with TimeDealing with Time

ExpansionExpansionCompressionCompression

Lettering and Word BalloonsLettering and Word Balloons

Dealing with Time: Dealing with Time: Expansion & CompressionExpansion & Compression

Panel TransitionsPanel Transitions

Moment-to-MomentMoment-to-MomentAction-to-ActionAction-to-ActionSubject-to-SubjectSubject-to-SubjectScene-to-SceneScene-to-SceneAspect-to-AspectAspect-to-Aspect(Non-Sequitur)(Non-Sequitur)

Symbolic/ FigurativeSymbolic/ Figurative

Moment-to-MomentMoment-to-Moment

Same subjectSame subject

Shows passage of timeShows passage of time

Action-to-ActionAction-to-Action

Same subjectSame subject

Shows change in Shows change in physical form of physical form of subject, action subject, action performed (verb)performed (verb)

Subject-to-SubjectSubject-to-Subject

Within scene/ ideaWithin scene/ idea

Shows minute Shows minute passage of timepassage of time

Scene-to-SceneScene-to-Scene

Requires Requires deductivedeductive reasoningreasoningTransports the reader Transports the reader across “significant across “significant distances of time and distances of time and space.”space.”Often supplemented Often supplemented with a transitional with a transitional device in the narrative device in the narrative voice (Meanwhile…)voice (Meanwhile…)

Aspect-to-AspectAspect-to-Aspect

Time may pause Time may pause (Compression)(Compression)ExtensionExtension Same scene, as Same scene, as though the character though the character or reader is “looking or reader is “looking around.”around.”

*think: descriptive *think: descriptive proseprose

Aspect-to-Aspect Aspect-to-Aspect The phenomenon of observing the parts but The phenomenon of observing the parts but perceiving the whole is perceiving the whole is closure.closure.

Mood, Time, SynestheticsMood, Time, Synesthetics

Non-SequiturNon-Sequitur

Offers no logical Offers no logical relationship between relationship between the panels.the panels.

Rare.Rare.

Expansion of TimeExpansion of Time

Think about using metaphor and Think about using metaphor and playing with words to enrich meaning.playing with words to enrich meaning.

Lettering and Speech BalloonsLettering and Speech Balloons

With Utmost Respect:With Utmost Respect:

McCloud, Scott. McCloud, Scott. Understanding ComicsUnderstanding Comics. New York: . New York: HarperPerennial, 1993. Print.HarperPerennial, 1993. Print.

Ms. Celia Brownrigg, for a large part of this power-point.Ms. Celia Brownrigg, for a large part of this power-point.