Narrative in Comics Interactive Media & Lingo, taught by George Legrady Design 157 UCLA Winter 1998 Interactive, non-linear multimedia projects are based on the combining of images with texts and sounds to create narratives, or interactive situations. Close relatives to this medium include cinema and comics. Cinema is produces meaning through the sequencing of time based scenes. Comics also use sequence but instead of time and sound, there is the addition of texts and the use of multiple images on the page to create meaning. Understanding Comics, The Invisible Art, Scott McCloud, Harper Sequential Art: Definition - p9 A story through the sequence of images and texts. icons, p26 Comics rely on simplified visual symbols, icons to carry meaning. Simple signs allow the viewer to imagine without effort. Abstraction, p50 Images are quickly recognized. Texts have to be learned and be decoded. They require more work. Closure, p63-67 Closure: Observing parts of things/situations but perceiving the whole. Closure is the means by which we can group information and make sense of things. Comic Narrative Sequence:* Closure and narrative flow in comics can be achieved a number of ways. These are six transitions from the most natural to the hardest in terms of recognizing closure. moment-to-moment, p70 Like frame sequences in films, requires little closure. action-to-action Ball comes to batter, batter hits ball. subject-to-subject, p71 Couple are ready to kiss, the phone rings scene-to-scene Scenes where we are transported across time or space require more reasoning aspect-to-aspect, p72 Where time goes by, transitions are like a wandering eye across aspects of a place, idea, mood. non-sequitur Sequences and juxtapositions which offer no logical relationship between them. Large panel-to-detail segments, p77, p78* Small panels providing close-up detail are set next to a large image. Narrative reduction, p84-85 A narrative told in 50 panels can be reduced down to 4 to 6. Text only panels, p87 Where texts become iconic they allow for different types of interpretation panel shape creating a sense of time, p101, 102* Long horizontal panels signify longer time. non-linear sequence, p105 We are used to reading from left to right but this can be played with. motion through static images, p110-114* Action be represented through repeated showing of an image. Visualizing emotions, p119-123 All icons can express moods, feelings, etc.. visual metaphors, p128, 129 Connotation - to imply rather than to describe, can also be done through simple icons (wavy lines to represent smell) balloons, p134 Balloons are containers of texts can also be visually altered to signify - example: icy looking balloon to represent someone being cool/distant. iconic representation, p141-147 Images are images but texts exist both as coded signs and visual elements. montage, p154, 157-160** The combination of scenes can be related in a number of different ways: Word Specific Combinations where pictures illustrate but don't add much to the text Picture Specific Where words do little more than add a soundtrack Duo Specific Panels in which words and pictures send the same message Additive Words amplify or elaborate on the image or vice versa Parallel Where words and pictures follow very different courses without intersections Montage Where words are treated as integral parts of the picture Interdependent Where words and pictures go hand-in-hand to convey an idea The more is said with words, the more the pictures can be freed to go exploring, and vice versa. The six steps to creating comics, p174-184 1. Content, 2. form, 3. genre (style), 4. composition/editing/planning (putting it together), 5. production, 6. final finish, review, correction