Post 6: Visual Narrative

In the chapters of “Understanding Comics” by Scott McCloud, the author explores the concept of sequential art and how it creates meaning in comics. He defines sequential art as the arrangement of images over time to tell a story. McCloud also explains the role of gutters, the blank spaces between panels in a comic, in creating narrative time frames. He argues that the gutters act as a bridge between panels, allowing the reader to construct a story from the sequence of images. McCloud also explores the use of time frames in comics, such as the slow-motion effect and the overlapping of events in different panels, to create a sense of time and movement. Throughout the chapters, McCloud uses examples from different comics to illustrate his points, demonstrating the power of sequential art, gutters, and time frames in the medium of comics.

 how might you approach the next visual narrative assignment?

I plan to create a video for the next visual narrative assignment. Though McCloud gives great advice and information on the use of mediums used in comics , video seems to be a great way to guide a viewers attention to help “construct a story”. Especially if there are no words said and just visuals of actions or objects. It leaves room for the audience to explore and construct the story in another way.

What do McCloud’s ideas generate for you in your own digital storytelling? Try to think outside the box.

McCloud believes that the simplicity of comic book visuals gives the visuals more power, largely because they call upon the comic book reader to help create the meaning. For my own digital story telling, I’d like to explore that in different mediums such as music, drawing (or in his way, comics and illustration), photography, maybe in just sounds or audio that don’t involve words or phrases but simply organic sounds of everyday life.

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