A graphic novel is an extended and complete narrative told through juxtaposed sequential art

 

 

 

 

• Western graphic novels are read front to back, left to right, top to bottom.

• Japanese comics (manga) are read back to front, left to right, top to bottom. Show examples – E.g. Naruto, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Nausica FullMetal Alchemist.

• In graphic novels, text and image are interdependent and need to be read together.

• Images cannot be removed without compromising the meaning of the story (compare this with a picture book)

• Spaces (gutters) between panels have to also be “read” - they have meaning (this construction of meaning between panels is called closure)

Show 10 minute video clip ‘Comics’ (Text Files, 1996, ABC TV, Ep. 6)

 

Frame: The lines and borders that contain the panels.

Panels

• these contain the comics art

• a sequence of panels can show one or more characters/ piece of action moving through time, or can show a number of characters/ piece of action at one point in time

• the nature of panel borders ( smooth, jagged, bold or none) can also provide meaning

• Layout Panel: A distinct segment of the comic, containing a combination of image and text in endless variety. Panels offer a different experience than simply reading text:

   The spatial arrangement allows an immediate juxtaposition of the present and the past.  Unlike other visual media, transitions are instantaneous and direct but the exact timing of the reader’s experience is determined by focus and reading speed.

 

 

Speech/ thought balloons

• these are the spaces for the characters’ spoken words or thoughts

• their shape, style and colour can convey meaning

• balloons are not always used

 

Motion lines

• these convey speed, length and direction of the action

 

Text

• the text can provide narration, speech, thoughts or sounds (through onomatopoeia)

• the font size, style, colour and capitalisation can all convey meaning

 

Image

• colour, style shading, perspective can all convey information and mood

 

 

Gutter: The space between framed panels. Bleed: An image that extends to and/or beyond the edge of the page.

 

Gutters

• these are the spaces between panels

• changes of character, scene, time and point of view can occur in these spaces

• as the reader moves across the gutter he/she must relate one panel to the next (this is called the act of “closure”)

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Foreground: The panel closest to the viewer.

 

Midground: Allows centering of image by using natural resting place for vision. The artist deliberately decides to place the image where a viewer would be most likely to look first. Placing an image off-center or near the top or bottom can be used to create visual tension but using the midground permits the artist to create a more readily accepted image.

 

Background: Provides additional, subtextual information for the reader.

 

Graphic weight: A term that describes the way some images draw the eye more than others, creating a definite focus using color and shading in various ways including:

 The use of light and dark shades; dark-toned images or high-contrast images draw the eye more than light or low-contrast images do

 A pattern or repeated series of marks

 Colors that are more brilliant or deeper than others on the page G

 

Figures

 

Faces: Faces can be portrayed in different ways. Some depict an actual person, like a portrait; others are iconic, which means they are representative of an idea or a group of people. Other points to observe about faces include:

 They can be dramatic when placed against a detailed backdrop; a bright white face stands out.

 They can be drawn without much expression or detail; this is called an “open blank” and it invites the audience to imagine what the character is feeling without telling them.

Hands/Feet: The positioning of hands and feet can be used to express what is happening in the story. For example, hands that are raised with palms out suggest surprise. The wringing of hands suggests obsequiousness or discomfort. Hands over the mouth depict fear, shame, or shyness. Turned in feet may denote embarrassment, while feet with motion strokes can create the sense of panic, urgency, or speed. Text

 

Captions: These are boxes containing a variety of text elements, including scenesetting, description, etc.

 

Speech balloons: These enclose dialogue and come from a specific speaker’s mouth; they vary in size, shape, and layout and can alternate to depict a conversation. Types of speech balloons include those holding:

 

 External dialogue, which is speech between characters

 Internal dialogue, which is a thought enclosed by a balloon that has a series of dots or bubbles going up to it

 

Special-effects lettering: This is a method of drawing attention to text; it often highlights onomatopoeia and reinforces the impact of words such as bang or wow.