Visual Storytelling

Visual Storytelling Literature in many media:

comics/ graphic novels, film, theatre (drama) HUGE INDUSTRY with

Massive influence: Comics- Marvel Studios

took in roughly $100 million dollars last year.

Movies- Hollywood film industry worth > $1,000,000,000

TV- More than 20 shows currently airing based on comic books

Popular shows influenced by comic book/ visual medium

Influences in toy and film industry: Lego x-men and film franchise

Anthropomorphism the attribution of uniquely

human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings (animals, plants, inanimate objects, natural phenomena)

Example: Animal Farm by George Orwell

“Maus” by Art Spiegelman Most comics/ graphic novels

have elements of this

Remember these from last week? Maus by Art Spiegelman, a 2 volume, Pulitzer prize winning graphic novel

Personification a metaphor where a

thing or abstraction is represented as a person

Fable A story where

anthropomorphized characters illustrate a “moral,” which can usually be expressed as a one sentence statement Tortoise and the Hare “Slow and steady wins

the race.”

Allegory an extended

metaphor, especially a story in which fictional characters and actions are used to express aspects of concepts relating to human existence. Aaron Mcgruder’s “The

Boondocks”

X-Men, by artist Jim Lee (2000)

X-Men X-Men, 2000.

X-Men Created by Stan Lee

(Writer) and Jack Kirby (Artist) in 1963

Published by Marvel Revolutionary: New

type of superhero…

X-Men Abilities come from

“evolutionary traits” Darwin’s theory of

Evolution Not “super powers” but

genetics

Contrast with the “superhero” stereotype

X-Men Like Maus, the plot deals

with important social issues through allegory: WWII and the Holocaust Racism Diversity Gender issues and LGBT

rights “The Red Scare” SOCIAL Darwinsim (only the

strongest, ex:” not minorities”, survive

Visual Storytelling across the globe….. Sequential art is often a

partnership between artists and writers.

Collaboration Community of enthusiasts

(Trekkies? Fanboys? Jay and Silent Bob?)

Creation of a universe/ alternate history, AND/OR explanation of common human traits

Widespread media: not everyone likes to read, but mostly everyone appreciates a good picture.

EUROPE…

Watchmenby Alan Moore Author from

Northampton, UK Artist from U.S.A. Plot revolves around

U.S. involvement in Vietnam War.

Sandman by Neil Gaiman Author from

U.K., but is an expatriate (now a U.S. citizen)

Most artists are from U.S.A. and Japan

Borrows from Greek, Roman mythology, American folklore

France Asteríx by René

Goscinny and artist Albert Uderzo

Running since 1959 About ancient Gauls

(French people) fighting against Roman Occupation

The Middle East Historically,

“Persepolis” is the ancient capital of the Persian empire.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Author and artist is Iranian

(Persian) Story is biographical Spent her adolescence in

Europe Fluent in Farsi and French Film version produced in

Europe

Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo

“Two months! March rent is due!

“You owe at least 2 two months!”

“Ah, Well, I’ve got nothing on me.”

“That is not my problem. You should KNOW you owe two months of rent.”

“Women are more trouble than they are worth.”

“Help! Policeman in a towel!”

U.S.A. “Fables” by Ben

Willingham Borrows from folklore

across the globe: European, American, Polynesian, etc.

Example: Big Bad Wolf (Bigby Wolfe) is a detective, Prince Charming is a womanizer, Goldilocks is a terrorist

Fables and “Sequential Art” By now, you may have

noticed that A LOT of these comics ARE BASED ON FABLES. These types of stories

are meant to communicate a message.

Pictures ILLUSTRATE the message for the reader.

Ben Willingham, Fables, Volume I Vertigo Press

For Example:

“Journey to the West” Traditional Chinese fable, novel, and Opera Written by Wu Cheng’en About Buddhist monks (A Monkey, pig, human, and dragon) who

journey to India from China Satirizes government

Journey to the West Still popular and

performed today Revival of opera

performed in London Music and art by

James Hewlitt and Damon Albarn (of Gorillaz fame)

Visual Storytelling: Asian Edition Manga and Anime:

$2 Billion dollar industry in Japan

Growing popularity in other regions of the world.

Often maintains folklore/fable roots, but “updates” to an urban setting.

Urashima Taro Traditional story Urashima Taro rescues a

turtle, and it takes him to an undersea palace. When he returns to land, he opens a box that a Princess gave him, and he ages hundreds of years.

Urashima Taro “Cowboy Bebop”

Japanese folklore with: American and African

inspired music Sci-Fi, Futuristic,

Western twist Example: “Sympathy for

the Devil” is a TOTAL riff on the Urashima Taro legend.

Princess Mononoke

Hayao Miyazaki= Go To guy for artistic, literary, award winning anime.

Shinto and Buddhist religious themes Comments on the Socio-Political landscape of Japan…

moving “forward” as a nation