introduction to graphic novels: learning the jargon
drawings in sequence |
We began the course by getting on the same page...comic book page, that is. How do we read a comic book? What are the codes and conventions of comic - also called sequential art - storytelling? How do we tell a story in pictures?
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We spent some time looking at different drawn panels and putting the panels together into a logical sequence.
the elements of good comic structure
Based on Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, we looked at some of the main elements of good storytelling - both for graphic novels and every other kind of story: choice of flow (seen below), choice of word (seen below), choice of image (seen below), choice of frame, and choice of moment.
storytelling techniques in the graphic novel
Scott McCloud also discusses six effective storytelling techniques in Understanding Comics.
Moment to Moment
Action to Action
Subject to Subject
Scene to Scene
Aspect to Aspect
Non-Sequitur
(slides below are from the website cloudscape -
http://www.cloudscapecomics.com/2011/07/06/an-introduction-to-graphic-novels/)
Moment to Moment
Action to Action
Subject to Subject
Scene to Scene
Aspect to Aspect
Non-Sequitur
(slides below are from the website cloudscape -
http://www.cloudscapecomics.com/2011/07/06/an-introduction-to-graphic-novels/)