17. Novels 1 of 10 Jane Austen, Emma Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.
18. Novels 2 of 10 Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.
19. Novels 3 of 10 Cervantes, Don Quixote In a village of La Mancha the name of which I have no desire to recall, there lived not so long ago one of those gentlemen who always have a lance in the rack, an ancient buckler, a skinny nag, and a greyhound for the chase.
20. Novels 4 of 10 Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.
21. Novels 5 of 10 George Orwell, 1984 It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
22. Novels 6 of 10 Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.
23. Novels 7 of 10 Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code Renowned curator Jacques Sauniere staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum's Grand Gallery.
24. Novels 8 of 10 William Gibson, Neuromancer The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
25. Novels 9 of 10 Toni Morrison, Beloved 124 was spiteful.
26. Novels 10 of 10 Larry McMurtry, Lonesome Dove When Augustus came out on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake – not a very big one.
Apologize for gross generalizations and language mangling.
Apologize for gross generalizations and language mangling.
Apologize for gross generalizations and language mangling.
Apologize for gross generalizations and language mangling.
Apologize for gross generalizations and language mangling.
Comix, moreso than some other communication mediums such as TV or newspapers, represents a distinct language. It has its own set of rules which must be understood in order to read the text. Like other languages, comix also has regional dialects which are the essence of this presentation. We are never taught how to read graphic language, but repeated exposure –and perhaps instinct- allow us to read words and pictures together. This combination can be very engaging, and sometimes even challenging. Like the spoken word, we can understand graphic language without understanding, or at least without being conscious of, its basics. This is isn’t a semiotics class, I want to keep things light, you won’t be graded!
Conventions, iconography, cliches, shortcuts, tropes, memes
Rhetorical questions revealing the basics of visual language. Objective to the subjective > universal to the personal Cultural homogeny is likely to result in us answering most of the questions similarly, the chances of differing answers increases as the questions progress. 1- Do you see a collection of lines, or do you see recognizable images? 2- Do you see this as two similar but distinct sets of figures which are existing at the same time, or do you see it as the same figures, depicting two events at different times? 3- Do you see the the first event occurring before the second one, or vice versa? 4- Do you see these events as occurring right now, in the past, or in the future? 5- Do you feel sorry for the cat head?
The strange little world of graphic conventions. Visual shorthand to convey ideas in a relatively static medium. Speech balloon is very common. Thought balloon is similar but BUMPY When we see it, we all know what it means. The creator doesn’t have to write “And then Batman said…, to which the Joker replied…”
Zig zag balloon Lines in the background – semiotics – signified and signifier - context
Number, curve, and placement of the lines all contributes to the description of the speed.
Notice the difference in the lines Signs that Snoopy has been hit = drawing itself, the stars, the tongue, the large Whop!
Notice that Snoopy’s dark balloon is smooth, not bumpy like a thought balloon. Snoopy didn’t talk at this point!
Now that we’ve seen the complexity that goes into our own visual language, try a different cultures! Changes in conventions can render it unreadable. What emotion is he experiencing?
For a quick rundown: Flipped / Flopped Graphic text (noises) would be backwards Running Teardrops – sad Screaming mouth and the blank eyes all contribute to the appearance of a frustrated / flustered figure Lines / text balloons – drama Teardrop = stressed
A lot goes on behind the scenes before we even get to the story. Understanding that, at least on some level, is crucial to the level of success in creating or reading graphic language, whatever language you “speak” as it were.
Apologize to creator. There is actually something odd at work here, beyond the fact that it’s almost entirely created from clipart. I’m going to give you a moment just to go over it and see what you think. The panels are out of order for western readers. Just like our language, graphic panels read left to right, top to bottom. Read as it is, the woman, fully pregnant in the first frame, is now slimmed down with 63 dirty diapers, and in the next one, is once again pregnant. Even for an amateur interesting things at work here. The lines and phone tell us how the two figures are communicating. Woman has no frame of reference, she’s floating in space, but considering she’s on the phone and standing up, I would assume that she’s home. Bottom left, the woman is now outside of a structure, probably her home. The driver’s position at the bottom of the stairs would indicate that he is just arriving Note also the little bit of text above the frame. It could easily be describing the first panel, but the fact that its actually touching the second box tells us that it belongs with it. Woman is shown as before and after pregnancy. Figures and objects break through the edges of the panel. This can be a very dynamic device in the hands of a skilled creator, here it’s just weird.
Masterful drafting skills. Evocative panels. Emotive speech balloons. Great pacing. Sense of personality, even from just the eyes.
I include this because no one teaches us how to read pictures, we just pick it up. Picture books are one place where we pick up the rules of reading pictures.
Beloved and historically significant picture book. 1928.
Principles of sequential storytelling are at work. Similar, adjacent pictures to describe progress through time
Comix represents a distinct language. It has its own set of rules which must be understood in order to read the text. Like other languages, comix also has regional dialects which are the essence of this presentation. Like the spoken word, we can understand graphic language without understanding, or at least without being conscious of, its structure. This is isn’t a semiotics class!
Manhwa – term within Korean, term for South Korean comics outside Korea China – mostly Taiwan and Hong Kong (more liberal)
Manga has a long history but took the form we know around WWII. Osamu Tezuka began around this time. Astro Boy was in the early 50’s.
Bambi was 1942. CULTURAL EXCHANGE The style and tradition are obvious. Connections with the west triggered this style of drawing and its conventions. This is an early example of cross-pollination in the comics field but it’s a trend that has never stopped.
In the 60’s and 70’s. Manga was serlialzed as today, and less serious. Gekiga was book format and often serious. This led to concerns about children being exposed to sex and violence in much the same way that there was the comic book scare in North America in the 40’s and 50’s. While Gekiga as a distinct format died out, the phrase remains to describe more serious less cartoony comics.
Also an example of Gekiga, or non-cartoony stle from the 1970’s Als an example of Decompression, where the story is spread out. Strong emphasis on visuals and character interaction. Check back when we get to Frank Miller! CULTURAL EXCHANGE 28 volumes? And the inspiration goes beyond comics. Quentin Tarantino gave it a nod in Kill Bill 2 when The Bride’s daughter chooses a film adaptation called Samurai Assassin as the movie she wants to watch.
Josei (or redikomi ) women Kodomo children Seinen men Shōjo young and teenage girls Shōnen young and teenage boys [ edit ] Genres Alternative (See also: Garo ) Gekiga (dramatic pictures) La nouvelle manga (Franco-Belgian/Japanese artistic movement) Semi-alternative (popular publication individualistic style) Battling companion (not an official name) Dōjinshi Fan-art or self-published manga Magical girl ( mahō shōjo ) Robot / Mecha (giant robots) Moé (also mahō kanojo or magical girlfriend) Shōjo-ai or Yuri, lesbian romance Shōnen-ai or Yaoi, gay romance Hentai , pornography KAWAII – “cuteness” - the cult of cuteness
Shonen-Ai – romantic love Bishonen – beautiful boy
Sexually explicit male homosexulaity For heterosexual women and homosexual men. YAOI = ( ya ma nashi, o chi nashi, i mi nashi ), "no climax , no punch line , no meaning," " Ya mete! O shiri ga i tai!" or "Stop! My butt hurts! Leads to Hentai – Tentacle Sex - specifics
Sweet smelling sexy super agent Fanservice Panty shot
Sweet smelling sexy super agent Fanservice Panty shot
Eye size
Laying on the ground = overcome with emotion Absence of a thought balloon = internal Ellipsis = silence / silent thought Emotive / Expressionistic background = conveying emotion
Gushing Tears – very upset Very abstracted thought balloon – convey the dark,tragic, and internal nature of the text Strange eyes = strange dog
Ellipsis = silence / silent thought Annotation = little help for the reader Blank face, squinting eyes = less innocent Heart = love
Little sparkles = throbbing veins = heightened emotion Hash marks on cheeks = blushing / flushed with anger Steam clouds = heightened emotion
Abstract background – pathetic fallacy Wisp of breath = various emotions Note that the little grrrs have been translated for the reader
Nose balloon = sleep Other translations “sniff” and “pfff”
Motion lines = suggest motion, lines vary with the nature of the motion. What about the japanese characters?
Japanese standards of nudity: For a junior high audience Female No detail Humourous Young
Chibi = big head, small body, stumpy arms Super deformed = chibi look for humourous effect Small pale nosebleed
More dramatic nosebleed
Very subtle explosive nosebleed
Clear Line style
Slapstick, puns, caricatures (esp. of Europeans)
Heavy metal magazine - Blueberry
Subtle! Lots of child nudity.
Erotica Heavy Metal magazine Acceptable male nudity.
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Captain Canuck actually Canadian produced
Montreal – intersection of Europe and North America – produces some of the most literary and well received comics.
Decompression Very cinematic – comics were used as storyboard for film
The love affair with the adult-speaking child, and the stuffed animal
The anthorpomorphic animal
Gregory Peck
Comix represents a distinct language. It has its own set of rules which must be understood in order to read the text. Like other languages, comix also has regional dialects which are the essence of this presentation. Like the spoken word, we can understand graphic language without understanding, or at least without being conscious of, its structure. This is isn’t a semiotics class!
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