CCT 300: Critical Analysis of MediaCCT 300: Critical Analysis of Media

Class 4: Critical Analysis and McCloud

Class 4: Critical Analysis and McCloud

Critical AnalysisCritical Analysis

• What does this mean?• How does one do it?• “There are no rules…and here

they are.” (McCloud, 2006)

• What does this mean?• How does one do it?• “There are no rules…and here

they are.” (McCloud, 2006)

Major componentsMajor components• Clarity• Accuracy• Precision• Relevance• Depth• Breadth• Logic• Significance• Fairness

• Clarity• Accuracy• Precision• Relevance• Depth• Breadth• Logic• Significance• Fairness

Good traits to develop…Good traits to develop…• Humility vs. arrogance• Courage vs. cowardice• Empathy vs. Closemindedness• Autonomy vs. Conformity• Integrity vs. Hypocrisy• Perserverance vs. Laziness• Reason vs. Unfounded Distrust• Fairmindedness vs. Bias

• Humility vs. arrogance• Courage vs. cowardice• Empathy vs. Closemindedness• Autonomy vs. Conformity• Integrity vs. Hypocrisy• Perserverance vs. Laziness• Reason vs. Unfounded Distrust• Fairmindedness vs. Bias

Representation in Comics

Representation in Comics

• Moment• Frame• Image• Word• Flow (2006)

• Moment• Frame• Image• Word• Flow (2006)

MomentMoment

• Comics must represent transition visually

• Comics must guide the reader’s sense of closure (or, leave the reader to guess the story…)

• Comics must represent transition visually

• Comics must guide the reader’s sense of closure (or, leave the reader to guess the story…)

Types of Moment Change

Types of Moment Change

• Moment-to-Moment• Action-to-Action• Subject-to-Subject• Scene-to-Scene• Aspect-to-Aspect• Non-Sequitur

• Moment-to-Moment• Action-to-Action• Subject-to-Subject• Scene-to-Scene• Aspect-to-Aspect• Non-Sequitur

Differences in Representing Moment

Differences in Representing Moment

• North American/European comics vs. Japanese - content analysis shows different ratios of moment transition

• Experimental comics also break with “standard” ratios

• North American/European comics vs. Japanese - content analysis shows different ratios of moment transition

• Experimental comics also break with “standard” ratios

FrameFrame

• Comics must focus reader’s attention on particular elements

• Creating sense of place, position, focus

• Similar to other visual media (e.g., film, photography)

• Comics must focus reader’s attention on particular elements

• Creating sense of place, position, focus

• Similar to other visual media (e.g., film, photography)

Framing elementsFraming elements• “Camera” angle• Distance and perspective• Detail (or lack thereof)• Symmetry and centering• Others?

• “Camera” angle• Distance and perspective• Detail (or lack thereof)• Symmetry and centering• Others?

ImageImage

• Comics must represent characters, objects, environments, symbols

• Or not - sometimes comics deliberately leave details vague to encourage reader participation in closure

• Comics must represent characters, objects, environments, symbols

• Or not - sometimes comics deliberately leave details vague to encourage reader participation in closure

Image elementsImage elements

• Level of detail• Photorealism vs. iconography• Expression (especially facial

expression)• Body Language

• Level of detail• Photorealism vs. iconography• Expression (especially facial

expression)• Body Language

WordWord

• Comics mix visual and literal forms• Much more so than other visual

media • A picture might equal 1000 words,

but words can quickly contextualize and represent pictures

• Comics mix visual and literal forms• Much more so than other visual

media • A picture might equal 1000 words,

but words can quickly contextualize and represent pictures

Word/image interplayWord/image interplay• Word specific • Image specific• Duo specific• Additive/intersecting• Interdependent• Parallel• Montage

• Word specific • Image specific• Duo specific• Additive/intersecting• Interdependent• Parallel• Montage

FlowFlow

• Comics as sequential art - sequence of images becomes important

• Moment, frame, image, word work together to create (or sabotage) flow

• Comics as sequential art - sequence of images becomes important

• Moment, frame, image, word work together to create (or sabotage) flow

Flow issuesFlow issues

• Cultural norms (e.g., North American/European - left to right - other cultures differ)

• Breaking norms (experimental comics)

• Extent to which creator guides flow

• Cultural norms (e.g., North American/European - left to right - other cultures differ)

• Breaking norms (experimental comics)

• Extent to which creator guides flow

Breaking the rules…Breaking the rules…• Culture jamming - what it is and

what it does• Depends on understanding genre

and either subverting 1) message or 2) form

• Similar to experimental/alternative work in all genres

• Culture jamming - what it is and what it does

• Depends on understanding genre and either subverting 1) message or 2) form

• Similar to experimental/alternative work in all genres

Next Week…Next Week…

• Look at culture jamming sites - what works? What doesn’t?

• Look at culture jamming sites - what works? What doesn’t?