Blog Entry 9: Visual Narratives, Continued…

We’ve been examining visual narratives in the form of graphic novels this unit, and next week we’re about to transition to another classic genre of visual narrative in our next unit: film.

In the meantime, as we prepare for this transition, I want to give you some time to consider other kinds of visual narratives that we won’t get a chance to directly touch on in this class. In thinking about something to write about, consider the following formats for possible inspiration: children’s or other illustrated books, comic strips, painting or photographic sequences, images with lyrics inside liner notes for albums, etc. Chances are, these kinds of rhetorical productions are intended to have a certain narrative between the visual and print material in the work.

You may also certainly build the argument that a single image is producing a narrative. This often works with photography, advertising, painting, etc. However, since such productions often have less text from which to construe the “narrative,” you as the viewer have to do more to clarify what the narrative is.

So: pick a favorite! Something from childhood, something you’ve seen recently, or something you’re going to seek out for the first time for this assignment. Whatever you choose, be sure to: (in 300-600+ words)

-LINK to the visual image (or at least one of the images, if you’re drawing on a longer work)

-SUMMARIZE what the narrative is

-SPECULATE as to HOW the visual medium works to achieve a story. Is it effective? Why or why not?

This will help us transition into thinking about film, and how really, one might argue that our realities are just connected visual narratives in one form or another…

Provide at least 3+ responses to your peers’ posts (100-300+ words each).