Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Will Eisner Post



Selected quotes from the Forward of Eisner's book:

This work (Eisner's book) is intended to consider and examine the unique aesthetics of sequential art as a means of creative expression, a distinct discipline, an art and literary form that deals with the arrangement of pictures or images and words to narrate a story or dramatize an idea. It is interesting to note that sequential art has only fairly recently emerged as a discernible discipline alongside filmmaking, to which it is truly a frontrunner. 

Comics have undoubtedly enjoyed wide popularity worldwide. However, for reasons having much to do with usage, subject matter and perceived audience, sequential art was for many decades generally ignored as a form worthy of scholarly discussion.  While each of the major integral elements, such as design, drawing and caricature and writing, have separately found academic consideration, this unique combination to a long time to find a place in the literary, art and comparative literature curriculums.  I believe that the reason for slow critical acceptance sat as much on the shoulders of the practitioners as the critics.  

Questions for Blog Response:
As a reader, engaging with Eisner's chapters:

(1) What surprises you?  

(2) What challenges you?

(3) What frustrates you?

(4) What do you appreciate?

21 comments:

  1. (1) What surprises you? Perhaps like many other non-readers of comics, I was surprised to see how much goes into every detail of a graphic novel. I am in awe of the multiple unspoken and explicit rules governing what is and is not put on a page, and in what order. One example quote from the text that surprised me because I had never stopped to think about it was, “Letters of a written alphabet, when written in a singular style, contribute to meaning. This is not unlike spoken word, which is affected by the changes of inflection and sound level” (p. 9).

    I was also surprised by how explicitly comic reading commands a shared understanding between the author/illustrator and the reader. I found this quote particularly interesting, “Comprehension of an image requires and commonality of experience. This demands of the sequential artist an understanding of the reader’s life experience if his message is to be understood” (p. 7).

    (2) What challenges you? I’m not sure if this is the kind of answer that is being looked for, but I am challenged by the language of comics. I feel like the actual words that the characters use are so far removed from reality, or even fiction, as I have experienced it that they are distracting. Here’s one of many examples that trip me up when trying to make sense of comic dialogue, “Him and his collich edjcashin’…what’s he mean?” (p. 52). It took me FORVER to figure out that the character was saying “college education”. But perhaps that is ironically indicative of my own “collich edjcashin”?...

    (3) What frustrates you? “In all forms of comics the sequential artist relies upon the tactic cooperation of the reader…Indeed it is this very cooperation, so unique to comics, that underlines the contract between artist and audience” (p 41). Apparently I failed out of cooperation class because the artist cannot rely on me one iota to follow this unspoken contract. I bounce around the page in an incoherent order and end up losing the message. This is what has held me back from comic reading my whole life. It is a challenge I faced even when trying to read the example comic strips throughout Eisner’s book. Even with the author’s careful guidance, I cannot convince my eyes to follow the “rules” and I end up lost and frustrated.

    (4) What do you appreciate? I appreciate the comparisons to other artistic mediums, such as film and theater, throughout the book, as I feel I have a much more confident understanding of these. These comparisons helped me “get it” much better with certain concepts. For example when Eisner was discussing frame in chapter 4, he compares to both cinema and live theater saying “The viewer of a film is prevented from seeing the next frame before the creator permits it because these frames…are shown at one time. So film, which is an extension of comic strips, enjoys absolute control of its “reading”-an advantage shared by live theater” (p. 41). This clearly exemplified the differences between the genres and showed me an issue that comics must deal with that I would not have otherwise considered.

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  2. 1. What surprises you?
    I was surprised by how precise the pictures and text need to be. We have to use our imagination to fill in the blanks, but if the picture and the text aren’t at the standard that they need to be as a reader we won’t get to the point where the author wants us to be.

    2. What challenges you?
    At some points it was very hard to follow the examples. I don’t know if it was because of the subject matter or the way the text bubbles were written. So I found myself having to re-read the comics to get the point of its use as an example as well as to be able to follow the story plot.

    3. What frustrates you?
    What frustrated me the most was having to read the comic through an analytical lense. I think that I would have enjoyed the comics examples a little more if they hadn’t been part of the text. But then again, without the direct examples I wouldn’t have completely understood the topic that Eisner was referring to.

    4. What do you appreciate?
    I really started to appreciate how much of an art form comics are. I’ve always been partial to the funnies, but while I was reading the book I realized how much work and effort went into making them. I will never look at comics or graphic novels in the same way, and I really appreciate how Eisner book opened my eyes to another awesome form of art and literacy.

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  3. 1. I was mostly surprised by the amount of work and thought that goes into each comic strip. It makes sense when I think about it, but I never really appreciated comics because I always considered it "fluff". I was amazed to see how much thought is involved within the writer, illustrator and the reader. Just like all authors, they have to consider their audience and plan accordingly.
    2. The thing that I find challenging- not necessarily with the chapter but with comics is the limitations it has on the reader's imagination. Although it is interesting and a different form of text, it leaves less room for imagination because the pictures are already created for you. However, that's not to say that comics should be eliminated because it's great to have a variety of literature.
    3. Something that frustrates me is how easy it appears to read a comic and how different it is when you sit down to read a graphic novel. When I first bought Coraline and my independent graphic novel- I was under the impression that these were "easy kid books". However, some pages I found myself re-reading because you can read through as quickly as you would a novel.
    4. After reading this chapter I can relate to how hard comic writing and sequential art really are. I used to have a problem with summarizing information because I wanted to write it all down-it was hard for me to find the important ideas. I think it would be easier to write a novel because you can go into depth and be very descriptive. However, with comics, you don't have as much room so they need to get the points across with minimal usage of words, which sounds extremely difficult!

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  4. (1) What surprises you?
    Like others, I was surprised by the amount of thought and work that goes into each panel of a comic. I didn't realize how much precise and selective thinking goes into planning and designing comics. Also, I didn't realize comics were considered a serious discipline until reading this book.

    (2) What challenges you?
    I would have to agree with the previous comments and say that the language of the comics was sometimes difficult to understand. I could get the general gist of the comic but had to re-read it a few times to catch the details and get a sense of the bigger picture.

    (3) What frustrates you?
    Hmm...what frustrates me..I think what frustrates me is the fact that it has taken so long for people in education to warm up to the idea of using graphic novels and comics as a valid educational tool. Also, it frustrates me to think that there are people who don't consider comic or graphic novel artists as "real artists" when clearly comics are a global art form that requires serious discipline and talent.

    (4) What do you appreciate?
    I appreciate the rich visual imagery, novel ideas, and unique perceptions that comics and graphic novels offer me. I appreciate all the hard work and thought that goes into each and every panel to convey a specific message or mood. I respect the talent and creativity of comic and graphic novel artists.

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  5. 1.What surprises you?
    After reading Eisner’s book, I was surprised by the complicated works behind a seemingly easy job of a cartoonist. In order to make a good sequential art product, cartoonists have to know anatomy, make a combination of pictures and story, convey time, choose frame properly and so on. Their job is no easier than teachers’ job but sadly the cartoonists’ hard works are always ignored by readers.

    2.What challenges you?
    Reading some of the sample sequential art works in this book by Eisner was challenging. He put lots of letters and pictures into each panel, which was a kind of “crowed” sometimes. As a result, it took me a while to decode all information from those overloaded panels.

    3.What frustrates you?
    Deciphering the meaning of HAMLET ON A ROOFTOP was a frustrating experience due to a lack of background knowledge. Although the protagonist’s feeling was pretty easy to get from the vivid depiction of his gestures and facial expressions, the story didn’t make much sense for those readers who were not familiar with the story of Hamlet.

    4.What do you appreciate?
    I appreciated Eisner’s detailed instructions and ample examples in the book especially his explanation on timing in Chapter 3. His understanding of how we measure and perceive time was inspiring meanwhile the examples in this Chapter were very interesting and convincing.

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  6. (1) What surprises you?
    I was surprised by all the work that goes into making a comic. When I read a comic I read the text and look at the pictures. I don't think about the how the frame of the pictures effects the meaning of the comic or what the different thought bubbles are meant to convey to the reader. Now when I read comics I will be more aware of all the details which give the comic its meaning.
    I was also surprised that many times a comic has a separate illustrator and writer. I just assumed the same person did both. I think it would be hard and frustrating to have the person working with you convey the idea you wanted.


    (2) What challenges you?
    I don't read comics on a regular basis and some of the comic examples were hard to follow. I had to reread them to understand them. But I also think that is a good thing because when I reread them I noticed things I hadn't previously which added to the story.


    (3) What frustrates you?
    I'm frustrated that I haven't read or even really been exposed to graphic novels before. I wish I had previously had an opportunity to read and explore graphic novels. I hope students in the future will be exposed to this. I agree and think this is a form worthy of scholarly discussion.

    4) What do you appreciate
    I appreciate all the hard work which goes into making a comic as I had no idea how much detail is applied to each frame of the comic. I also appreciate all the examples in the book as it let me experience and apply what I just read about.

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  7. (1) What surprises you?
    The development of the balloon. The balloon carries with it; emotion and time, hence "sequential art". The balloon carries the message. The box carries the time/sequence. I always took the balloon for granted. The lettering inside the balloon blew me away. The artist's handwriting, fonts, and subcontracted handwriting are all considerations the artist has to choose. Wow.
    (2) What challenges you?
    Understanding the intricate elements that are considered by the artists. It seems to me that there are so many elements that qualify a comic book/strip. So many things to consider for it to be considered a graphic novel. Amazing.
    (3) What frustrates you?
    The complexity of some of the frames and perspectives that each comic strip presents. I am also frustrated by comics I do not understand, like Hamlet on the Roof. Story development is a challenge. Creating panels as a team can be quite challenging. What to write, draw, and manipulate within each panel is confusing to me.
    (4) What do you appreciate?
    Comic strips have developed through the years with our culture and vocabulary. History has a role in how comic strips/books are developed. The image-word mix by the artist is awesome because of what happens when a reader is confronted with a word and an image simultaneously. The artist and the reader/viewer must connect on the "experience" level. Graphic novels are an intimate form of literacy.

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  8. 1. What surprises you?
    As a strong reader of traditional text, I have been struggling with reading Coraline and my independent graphic novel. This is partly because I am trying to ignore the pictures and solely focus on the text to gain understanding of the story. Through reading Eisner’s book, I have realized that I simply CANNOT ignore everything else on the page because everything is done purposefully and skillfully. Apparently, you cannot read a graphic novel and just focus on the words. Time is presented in a way that completely blows my mind; frames that are closer together show time moving quickly. This is not done for stylistic purposes like I originally assumed. The complexity in the level of literacy that reading a graphic novel entails is amazing. Eisner explains, “musical passage can be compared to a comic strip in that each employs the use of time in its expression” (26). In order to read effectively, one needs to be literate in music expressions or some other means of keeping time without explicit explanation. A lot more goes into it than just reading words and mindlessly looking at pictures; a reader needs to really engage in the text and examine everything on the page.

    2. What challenges you?
    As I have already discussed, I am not used to being a slow reader or someone who has to try very hard to understand text—and I have to do that now! I am reading at such a slow pace, because I am learning how to understand all the aspects of the novel. Different text types signifies differences in tone of voice, something I am not used to having to look for because it is explicitly laid out in traditional text. I am getting used to taking into account the difference in text-types, but the style of text-boxes still has me wondering ‘what is the point of this?’ As I know now, everything in a graphic novel is done on purpose so what is the difference between a text-box with smooth edges versus one with jagged or flowy edges? My biggest challenge is training my eyes and mind to take everything into account while reading and not just focus on the text—when I do so, I am missing out on essential aspects of the story.

    3. What frustrates you?
    I am suddenly not a proficient reader, that’s what’s frustrating me! In all seriousness, I am frustrated by the fact that I have heard, and many educators believe, that graphic novels are great for low-level and reluctant readers. We are doing a disservice to all of our students by not exposing them to this genre; there is so much to discover and talk about in terms of author’s intent, as well as, reading pictures/text/frames. I do agree that graphic novels may be the key to hooking reluctant readers and getting them to enjoy reading; but they can benefit all readers. Here I am, a proficient college-level reader with a BA in English and Literature, and I am learning new things about reading and effective reading practices through engaging with these novels.

    4. What do you appreciate?
    In terms of Eisner’s book, I appreciate the reader-friendly introduction to graphic novels and comics. After reading about how much skill and tact that goes into creating these, I would imagine that this book could be filled with jargon that would be WAY over my head. I like how it is accessible to a regular reader, and how it is a user-friendly introduction to graphic novels. I also appreciate the text explanations and the illustrations. Being new to this type of text, it is hard for me to visualize some of the concepts presented. Having a visual on the following pages really solidifies the ideas for me. I also appreciate the fact that now when my students are talking about graphic novels, I will be able to understand them on a much deeper level.

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  9. 1.) Not unlike everyone else, the abilities of a graphic novelist surprised me. I had no idea the amount of effort it took. I had already read Coraline when I read this, but I wanted to go back and read it again to see if I could spot the lack of frames in sections to create an air of suspense, or thought bubbles versus speech bubbles, or different font choices. As I begin my personal graphic novel choice, I know I will go into it with a different set of eyes. I also think the person must see the world with a very differnet lens. Eisner mentions in ch. 5 about body language and how the artists watch the people around them. They must see a whole story when they people watch- just from simple motions and facial changes. How fun it would be to be able to read the world in this way.
    2.) Challenges I saw were similar to Christine's where I could easily skip ahead in the story. As someone who loves to know the ending, I wanted to peek ahead. But when I did, the lack of words didn't allow me to do so, and I had to return to the prior spot. He mentions how the writer and artist have to give up control of their readers by realizing that they CAN skip around, but by controlling their frames, they can convince you not to do so, or you'll be lost. Just like I was lost! :) Other challenges in this book for me are that I feel so out of the loop. So often when people carry on a literary discussion, I can easily jump in. I know authors' names, different genres, and have read a great deal from young adult to adult fiction and non fiction. But in this book, Will Eisner's references were lost on me and it made the book a little more like a textbook.
    I also saw what he meant on pg. 93 where he says that aritsts can't help showing off a little. I sometimes felt like the artwork was overdone and it confused me with all the extra details on where the plot was headed. It took focus away from where my eye should have been drawn.
    3.) I would say the frustrations I have stem from the fact that in this book we don't get to read a whole collection of comics, but rather choppy parts. That makes it especially hard to follow the stories and I could never tell if the Spirit comics are supposed to follow one another sequentially and build the story. Otherwise, I wasn't too frustrated.
    4.) The thing I have come to appreciate the most about from this novel is the true artform and intricacy that it takes to design a graphuc novel or comic strip. I'm ashamed to say I have viewed this as a quick and easy profession and thought it meant they couldn't be real authors. I see now that they must spend an incredible amount of time revising and planning and reading it through a reader's eyes. I am impressed by the writer's ability to defer to the artist. As Eisner says in Ch. 6, pg. 135, the artist should dominate if they are not the same person. That level of respect is interesting, but after reading this book, well earned.
    Another aspect I love is that it can tell so much about emotions that of course novel authors must work much differently to convey- and they may never truly achieve it. pg. 113 of the different facial expressions made me smile and reminded me of a novel by Mark Haddon that I'm currently reading , "The Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight." In it, the author writes from an autistic perspective and the child cannot understand expressions. Graphic novels might be a wonderful way to teach them how to read people and it can tell other readers so much more about each of the characters.
    I appreciate the fact that it can tell darker stories as well because of its medium, and finally- I get the sense from it that it has a classical romance or historical feel. Nowadays, period piece novels don't sell as well, so the idea that graphic artists and writers can easily write about prior time periods with ease is intriguing.

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  10. (1) What surprises you?
    First off, what suprised me most was the incredible amount of detail that is put into comic books/graphic novels. I had never really considered how the number/shape of the frames helped me discern time, or that the angle of which I was viewing the scene made me feel more/less a part of it. I feel like there is soooo much work that goes into every page of one of these books, not that regular books don't take as much effort page by page, but it's a different kind.


    (2) What challenges you?
    Since I'm so accustomed to reading text only novels, I really solely on words to create pictures for me. When I read a graphic novel, I tend to ignore the pictures and focus on the words, but in doing so I lose a lot of the meaning because the visual is what tells the story, not the words. Words just enhance. So I have to concentrate more and remind myself to look at all the pictures as I'm reading.


    (3) What frustrates you?
    Probably the same thing as above that challenges me. Plus the fact that I feel I lose a lot of the story because I am so text oriented rather than picture oriented. I enjoy visuals, it always adds more meaning, but when the meaning is mostly told by the pictures, I think sometimes I never quite get the whole picture of what's going on.


    (4) What do you appreciate?
    I appreciate the work that authors/artists put into novels like these. I appreciate the fact that they even exist because they are amazing gateways for struggling/reluctant readers. I'm really happy I read Eisner's book because now I feel like I understand comic books and graphic novels even if I still don't read many. I can relate more now to students who like them because I understand how they work and can even enlighten some students who may not realize all the effects going on.

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  11. 1.) What surprises you?
    Honestly, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading both Coraline & A Contract with God. Growing up, and until this point, when I thought of comics I would instantly imagine my 10 year old brother reading ‘Superman’, and desperately trying to get me to read along with him. I never had any interest in them, and never realized that they were such a rich form of literature. I never took the time to appreciate the amount of amazing detail that is portrayed in each small box. I cannot imagine how long it must take an author to finish a graphic novel. It is extremely impressive.
    2.) What challenges you?
    The most challenging thing that I have found while reading graphic novels is figuring out how to read each page in the correct order. I find myself struggling not only when trying to follow the order of the boxes, but also the order of the speech bubbles. Once I get through a few chapters it does get easier to follow, but because there is so much on each page I do find it difficult to follow.
    3.) What frustrates you?
    I have never been exposed to graphic novels, therefore when I began reading Coraline I found it difficult to read the text, and interpret the pictures at the same time. When I would turn the page I found myself looking at all of the pictures at once before I actually read the words that went along with them. Before I read the first box in the top left, my eyes immediately take me to the bottom right. It is frustrating because I am almost giving away the story before I have the chance to read about what is happening.
    4.) What do you appreciate?
    I truly appreciate the amazing attention to detail that goes into each drawing. I can’t imagine how long it takes to draw one single box, never mind an entire book. I hope that the authors of these graphic novels know that they’re hard work is paying off everyday in classrooms where children are reading, loving, and most importantly learning from their novels.

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  12. (1) What surprises you?

    By reading this book, I was surprised by an art form, like comics, can truly interpret the inner thoughts of the author in these blanks. And these blanks concisely express what the author is trying to say. In addition, imagination is also an important part in the comic because the one of the purposes is how the content can attract readers and what the bubbles mean in the comics.

    (2) What challenges you?

    The biggest for me is that I sometimes cannot follow the comic examples. For example, when I read the “Coraline,” I have to reread to understand what just happened previously and keep reading. Sometimes, some information is hard to connect sequentially.

    (3) What frustrates you?

    Even if I read comics since I was in middle school. I was still frustrated by reading a comic that forces me to think critically and the language because I haven’t read comics in English so that I might be confused by some language uses.

    (4) What do you appreciate?

    I appreciate to those authors who advocate making comics and provide the other way for readers to read. For me, I am not an excellent reader when I read texts or novels in English. I do, however, enjoy reading graphic novels in this class because these comics attract me to read and desire to read. This is the first time I feel that I like to read in English.

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  13. 1. I was surprised that graphic readers had such a great variety of content and audiences. Also, I was impressed by the variety of choices at the story-teller's disposal (e.g., panel shape) and, thus, the level of analytical thought that goes into crafting good comics.

    2. I'm more of a textual person - I pretty much like to read anything. When it comes to the visual art I encounter, though, I'm much more picky. Some manners of drawing are just too annoying or jarring to look at. I had a difficult time engaging the author because many styles of draftsmanship that were presented in this book totally and thoroughly turned me off.

    3. What frustrated me the most about this book was its distracting use of images. Each chapter had an abundance of pictures and I think all of them collaborated with the text to enhance my understanding of the author's viewpoint, but reading was an uphill battle. Only some of the images were clearly labeled and the page layout did not effectively guide me in reading the images and text. I found myself disoriented and wanting to just scan through the chapters, looking only at the pictures and their captions. This was problematic because the captions often were not very explanatory and rarely were labeled in such a way that would quickly and accurately direct me back to the main body of text.

    4. I appreciate that Eisner highlights one graphic reader every chapter. The overall, crisp design (two facing pages, bold red borders, succinctness of thought, etc.) was a welcome relief from the rest of the book's clutter.

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  14. 1) What surprises you?
    I was surprised by how challenging it was for me to read the examples in this book as well as how much detail can be encompassed into one small frame. I love to read novels and was surprised by how much more information can be encompassed into one page of a graphic novel compared to one page of a traditional novel. I was also surprised by how authors show time passing by. I had noticed some of their strategies (such as a dripping sink or teeth brushing), but had never really thought about them as a way to communicate time passing.

    (2) What challenges you?
    In trying to follow the excerpts of graphic novels presented in the chapters, I was challenged by trying to go too fast. I found myself not really understanding what was going on because, at first, I was not taking into account all of the details in each frame.

    (3) What frustrates you?
    In reading the graphic novels, I find myself particularly frustrated by frames that overlap each other, (for example, on pages 68 and 69). I appreciate structure in most things in my life, and I think this is another instance where I feel less overwhelmed when each snapshot is contained within a frame. The graphic novel that I am reading independently (Stitches) did not incorporate very much overlapping of images or scenes. In fact, there are many pages that devote an entire page to one scene. I think this is what made that graphic novel so easy to read.

    (4) What do you appreciate?
    Like others, I appreciate all the work and thought that goes into creating the different images and text in one single frame. After reading Eisner’s book, it has become even more clear all the aspects there are to think about when creating a graphic novel; from how you are going to show time passing to showing emotion without the use of words. Thus far, I have only been exposed to graphic novels that tell a dark story. It would be interesting to read one that is not as dark.

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  15. 1: I think what surprised me the most is that comic writing has an actual format or "language" that allows for meaning. Just as poetry has different rules and structures to convey different meanings, so does comic writing. The complexity and various techniques in which comics are constructed was realy eye opening to me. I had no idea that the framing style, text font and creation of timing had such an impact on the overall effect of a comic.

    2: I think I am most challenged by the process of reading the comics. My eyes tend to dart all over the page, trying to take in the whole image as if it were a piece of art in a museum. I have trouble slowing down and reading each sequence step by step. I think this might be due to the fact that I am new to reading comics and need to develop familarity with the medium. As Esiner says, this "method of communicating depends upon the ease with which the reader recognizes the meaning and emotional impact of the image" (14) My challenge is to develop that ease and familarity so that I am able to slow my eyes down and take in each indivual image in sequential order rather than rushing my eyes across the page.

    3:I think what challenges me about comics is what frustrates me! By nature I have always loved reading and if I really love a novel I will stay up all night to finish reading it. I found the challenge of slowing myself down and dissecting a comic to be frustrating and tedious. I felt slow and struggled to find the meaning at times. This is ironic because I had always thought of comics as "easy reading" for people who don't really know how to read very well or perhaps struggle with literacy. I realized that the frustration of navegating through a comic was in a way similar to the frustrations I feel when I try to read a map- I have a hard time focusing and finding my way. (I am never chosen as the navegator on roadtrips;)) This idea that different types of skills are used for different types of reading is summed up by Wolf's definition of reading "reading- in the most general sense-can be thought of as a form of perceptual activity. The reading of words is one manisfestation of this activity; but there are many others- the reading of pictures, maps, circuit diagrams, musical notes..." (8)

    4: I appreciate the art and creativity that goes into making a comic after reading Eisner's book. I think I have really undervalued and underated comics over the years, having just skimmed past them in the Sunday paper or New York Times. This book made me stop and take note of the craftsmenship, thought, talent and process that is required to write a comic. I think I also have a new appreciation for people who read comics regularly and their literacy abilities.

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  16. 1. What surprises you?
    I found myself surprised at how much structure there actually is in the creation of comics. While I knew that there were general formats and layouts that many comic artists seemed to use, I did not realize these commonalities were so intentional. The way that things are framed, for example, is critical to the way someone will view the story. It is no coincidence that comics follow some standard formats - novels, poems, stories and films all do - but it was just something I had never really considered before.

    2. What challenges you?
    I found myself having trouble focusing my attention when reading both Eisner's book and the graphic novels (Coraline and Maus.) I have always been a voracious reader who absorbs what I am reading easily. When reading the comics and graphic novels, however, I found myself having a lot of trouble keeping my eyes from wandering ahead to more interesting frames. I was relieved when, in chapter four, Eisner described the challenge to artists to keep the reader on the right path. He said that viewers often glance ahead and then returns to the suggested "reading track." Knowing that other readers had wandering eyes made me feel a little better about the way I had been reading.

    3. What frustrates you?
    After learning a lot more about graphics novels and comics, I definitely have a new respect for the artists and authors of both mediums. As an art teacher, I have considered comics to be an art form, but (I will admit) not really thought of them as a quality work of literature. It seems to me that graphic novel writers do not get the respect or appreciation that is warranted by their work. I do not see comics as being held in very high esteem in the arena of the arts, nor are comic book writers praised by the literati. For a profession that is putting forth twice the creative effort, I think that these authors deserve a lot more credit than they get. I find it frustrating that this is such an ignored form of literacy, and wonder what can be done to elevate it to where it would garner more respect.

    4. What do you appreciate?
    Like a few other people wrote, I definitely had some difficulty getting through the graphic novels. When I went through Coraline, I found myself having to read pages or frames more than once in order to fully understand. I have always been a strong reader, and it was defintely a challenge for me to try something new and struggle with it - especially something I had assumed would be very easy. I appreciate the fact that something like a comic would humble me in this way. I do not claim to know everything, or even mostly everything, but I have always known how to read. Having to learn how to read in a different way was a challenging experience, but one that I am really appreciating.

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  17. (1)What surprises you?
    I have to admit that, I'm not a big comic books fan. Before I started to read these books I was not expect that much and I thought it is very easy to read and understand. I underestimated them, I thought these kind of books are for children and do not require that much of work, it just simple arts with words bubbles. However, I surprised by the amount of efforts and work that goes to create each part. Every panel has its own image and meaning.
    I was also surprised by the combination between Literature and Art and I think this task or talent is required a skillful person who can capture the moments with every details and bring it in the paper.
    (2) What challenges you?
    As I mentioned before I was not s big fan for comic books, thus, the first challenge I faced is following the correct order for the boxes and the bubbles. Also, some examples were a little hard to figure out at first, I struggled in understanding these examples and I found myself reread it many times to understand the content.
    (3) What frustrates you?
    The story is not as direct and quick as I expected. There is a lot of build up over time and I have to concentrate in every detail and understand each part to grasp the whole meaning.
    (4) What do you appreciate?
    I appreciate this chance to read comic books. I also appreciate the authors’ job and value their efforts. If I do not expose to these graphic novels, I would not be able to understand the efforts and hard work that contributed to the making of ythe graphic novel.

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  18. 1. What Surprises me?

    I was surprised how enjoyable and easy for me to read this type of book. I also think that ease doesn't represent the level of work that goes into creating such a novel. I was surprised by the time that it takes to make a comic novel and/or strip flow with ease.

    2. What Challenges me?

    Reading the sequence or placing the panels in order was a challenge to me. Since after reading Coraline and reading about how they are made. I come to enjoy this style of novel and not really feel that much of a challenge.

    3. What frustrates me?

    I was intimidated and frustrated at when I first started to learn about this writing because i was really unconventional and weird. I gave it a chance anyway and find that only thing that may frustrate me about these novels is plots that may not be complete in my mind or that seem silly or pointless. Otherwise, I really wasn't frustrated by reading and learning about graphic novels.

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  19. (1) What surprises you?
    Since I’m a huge fan of comics, I’m not surprised by the fact that there are so many things going on in a graphic novel. I’d always love to learn the art and techniques hidden in it, yet I’m still surprised by some certain techniques that I never learned before, like when and how to use words within a picture. I feel I still have a lot to learn, and I’m very glad that I read this book!

    (2) What challenges you?
    I’m really good at reading Japanese Mangas, but I’m not familiar with American graphic novels. I have to say there’s a huge difference in the mindsets between East and West. So it is also quite different between the ways to tell a story. It’s a kind of challenge for me to read the pantomime without words.

    (3) What frustrates you?
    It is rather interesting that all the words in graphic novels are written in capital letters, and it really frustrated me to some extent. Because I used to read in chapter books and when there are words that are all written in capital letters, it makes me feel hard to tell what the words are. And my reading speed was slow down. But I see this as a precious experience because capital letters are also everywhere and I have to get used to them and try to read them more fluently.

    (4) What do you appreciate?
    I appreciate that the book illustrates in detail what are the art, traits and techniques behind graphic novels. The book shows us how literacy can be presented in another way. And also it makes us no longer take literacy in our daily lives for granted. The book broaden my mind, and I start to think about the traits and values that might hidden in other types of literacy, like, even in advertisements.

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  20. What surprises me is the extent to which certain techniques create meaning in a graphic novel or a comic. Growing up, my only interaction with comics was through the Family Circle out of the Sunday newspaper that my mother would cut out and put on the fridge. There are so many elements to consider, such as frames, imagery and even the text and how its written! I am surprised how much detail goes into each letter, each character and each expression.

    What challenges me is actually focusing in on the pathway of the comic. On a lot of the comic examples throughout the book I get caught up in everything going on throughout the whole page. I am learning to focus on the details one frame at a time - like Eisner talks about in contrast to a film's ability to only show one scene at a time.

    What frustrates me is that I pull on too much of my traditional reading qualities in reading a comic or graphic novel. I'm a very fast reader, and the type that can't put a book down until I know what happens next. With comics, I feel like there is so much detail to focus on that if I go through it really fast, I will miss a lot of the subliminal meanings behind text structure or facial expressions. I'm learning to take my time to get the full effect of the graphics.

    I really appreciate all of the background knowledge this book is providing about comics and graphic novels. I had absolutely no idea how engaging the reading experience can be with this type of literacy. I appreciate it as an art form that I see as a way to motivate reluctant or struggling readers.

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  21. Oh! I Just saw that I didn't answer question #4 on this blog! : (

    What do I appreciate?

    I can appreciate the writing mixed with r cartoons. I am a T.V watcher and any types of pictures or graphics stimulate my mind and keep me focused.

    I enjoyed allowing the story to unfold through not only the dialogue of the characters but the visual supports as well.

    I most enjoyed the book Coraline. And felt the story come alive with pictures. I think that I would drift off in my head about other things or I would put this book down and never pick it up again if it were all dialogue and no graphics.

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