WEEK 2: Understanding Comics Response

In reading Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud, I was pleasantly surprised by the format of the book. While I was expecting a long, droning how-to of creating comics, I was greeted with a different reality.  The book was detailed and very hands-on, offering explanations of how comics create a sense of passing time. 

I grew up never reading comics and find this creative medium to be some what of a new language for me.  McCloud has a great saying that I feel applies to my small cliché knowledge of comics. "The first step in any such effort is to clear our minds of all preconceived notions about comics. Only by starting from scratch can we discover the full range of possibilities comics offer." Through reading Understanding Comics, I have discovered that there are many strategies, various styles and ways to convey the message of a comic. 

As a photography major, it is challenging for me to think of how I can show the passing of time in a still image. I am accustomed to creating still images and representing the passage of time through a series of images in a collection or creating context to move the story along. In this regard, I related to the structure of comics which utilize contextual elements such as narration. A comic panel mirrors single image photographic work. McCloud refers to something called intervening moments, where frames work together to create the past, the present, and the future. Similarly to photography, storylines can be advanced by careful placement of images in a series.  

Comics serve a very strong purpose in terms of storytelling because they are designed to focus on its core elements. With the use of the simplified, stripped down image, minimal dialogue and narration, one is forced to pay attention more closely to the story. Even though this form may seem arcane in this age of flash, technology and complicated stories, the comic has a foundational place in story telling that can be a rich source to readers. 

-Abigail