Literature of Comics and the Graphic Narrative Course

Little Nemo, Peanuts, and the Comic Strip I thought that the Sunday comics were a huge stepping stone when it came to comics. I remember my grandpa used to tell me about the Sunday comics when he'd get them in the newspaper. There was always a new addition to the story, so whenever the next Sunday came it was always anticipation for the reader like it was a new episode that aired.  I remember learning about Little Nemo by Winsor McCay when I was taking the history of illustration class. It was a really cool comic that was so surreal and could go in so many directions although it was such a simple subject matter. But, I loved it because it was actually so relatable; I also loved the fact that this comic was actually a huge printed book. I loved reading it because I actually had dreams as vivid as little Nemo's dreams in Slumberland. I mean, I didn't have a particular goal like Nemo did, to reach the Princess. It reminded me of Mario, how he tries to get Princess Pea...

Hogarth and Topffer William Hogarth (1697-1764) Deters prison 2 panel paintings at University of Cambridge  before and after paintings, before the man was going towards the woman and now the man is trying to steer away from the woman. The theme is moral, not to let lust take over - immoderation brings ill considered entangles. Hogarth is a moralist, many of his works have a moral message.  The Harlot's Progress he would create lotteries to give his paintings and prints away.  1st Panel: Mother Needum: notorious London character, stoned to death Mother Needum is looking at the young woman as a prize.  Band under woman's arm shows that she is a seamstress.  "To my loving cousin in Tems street" The man at the doorway was a rapist, is there a pistol in his pocket Clergyman on his horse, has a letter in his hand "To the high reverend father in London". A letter of recommendation, or a letter or introduction - trying to get a job. The horse ...

Understanding Comics  Scott McCloud  I really enjoyed Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics  because I used to read comics as a kid as well, but I too asked the same questions as this comic had in it. I loved how this comic was very successful by explaining as well as questioning comics as a comic medium itself, to make it more interesting. There were many topics discussed in this comic and explaining the fact that we can use each panel to our advantage to tell stories in immense detail even with just a couple of panels. McCloud discussed the different aspects of storytelling through symbolism, the exchange of information and visual imagery. It's great how he explains how classic comics have a certain structure to them as well as analyzing how those structures can be tested and changed. He also touches bases on both fiction and non-fictional concepts through the comics and how they have symbolic elements that help create these works. In this comic he shows these id...

The Rooster’s Laugh Max Ernst First Panel : There appears to be a gypsy/ beggar woman trying to show some tricks for some money in the streets. She is accompanied by her rooster on top of a golden ball. Along with the rooster there are a basket of eggs. There appears to be a dead figure of a man in the back, below the staircase. Second Panel: It seems as though this is a flashback to when the gypsy was younger. She appears to be asleep while a winged man along with the rooster look down upon her. They seem to be in a dark and mysterious room filled with magical secrets. As though this winged man is creating a ritual or casting a spell on to her. Third Panel: The girl has now died and is being buried in their secret cult like chapel (upside down cross). Being buried by the rooster, now a large scale figure a dark rooster-man and a woman. Fourth Panel: It seems as though as the dark rooster-man and the rooster are trying to hatch a plan to maybe make the girl come to ...

The Arrival Shaun Tan The Arrival  by Shaun Tan is a very interesting story, told in a comic. The reason why this works so well, is because although Tan does not use any descriptions or any of the characters speaking to one another. This comic worked particularity well because it was very cinematic as well as animatic. Going scene by scene, and sometimes as detailed as frame by frame. In a sense, it can be seen as a silent film – they usually did not have to have dialogue between the characters, it was all inaudible. The majority of how this story worked out was as the saying goes, ‘actions speak louder than words’. So, whenever you’d go to the next frame it would be in a very sequential way of looking at how the story is being played out. Tan even shows the characters in a very close up scale, showing the emotions on their faces and how they react with each other as well as the environment around them. Even the way that Tan would illustrate the...