Graphic Novel Elements Comics Vocabulary + Structure

What are Comics (Graphic Novels)? Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. (whew!) Sequential Art

Story Telling/ Literature ReaderNarratorJuxtaposition Protagonist (Antagonist, etc) MetaphorSymbolmore…

A Rose by Any Other Name… (different terms/different meanings) Dialogue/ Speech Bubble Tone (Contents, Presentation – words and pictures)

Visual Art PerspectiveLineShapeTexture Shadow/ Shading Style Negative Space Synesthetics

Martian Alphabet (how visuals carry meaning) We have a shared sense of meaning that goes beyond words. Which one is Booba? Which is Kiki?

structure,layout,colour = meaning

Juliet gets ANGRY!!! (Manga Style)

Other Styles

Line and Shape

Negative Space

Line and Shape Help Create Mood

Comics Panel –Panel Transitions GutterClosure Dealing with Time ExpansionCompression Lettering and Word Balloons

Dealing with Time: Expansion & Compression

Panel Transitions Moment-to-MomentAction-to-ActionSubject-to-SubjectScene-to-SceneAspect-to-Aspect(Non-Sequitur) Symbolic/ Figurative

Moment-to-Moment Same subject Shows passage of time

Action-to-Action Same subject Shows change in physical form of subject, action performed (verb)

Subject-to-Subject Within scene/ idea Shows minute passage of time

Scene-to-Scene Requires deductive reasoning Transports the reader across “significant distances of time and space.” Often supplemented with a transitional device in the narrative voice (Meanwhile…)

Aspect-to-Aspect Time may pause (Compression) Extension Same scene, as though the character or reader is “looking around.” Same scene, as though the character or reader is “looking around.” *think: descriptive prose

Aspect-to-Aspect The phenomenon of observing the parts but perceiving the whole is closure. Mood, Time, Synesthetics

Non-Sequitur Offers no logical relationship between the panels. Rare.

Expansion of Time

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

Lettering and Speech Balloons

With Utmost Respect: McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics. New York: HarperPerennial, Print. Ms. Celia Brownrigg, for a large part of this power-point.