In the Cape by J.R. Carpenter a concept that McCloud talks about; closure, is demonstrated in this work. It starts even in the first frame transition. The reader is not told or shown how they physically got to their grandmother’s house but closure explains how it happened. It could be a car, train, plane, or even bicycle; it’s up to the reader. Amplification through simplification is also used and in the first frame as well (or the last depending on which direction you read it). The grandmother’s house is not shown with a photo or extremely detailed picture, just a generic drawing. And in the sixth frame there is a very elementary drawing of a map with emphasis on the simple lines on it.
Again in Landscapes the concept of Amplification through simplification is used for the pictures. Buildings are drawn with simple geometric shapes. Lines and circles are used to make flags, trees, and even the weather. There doesn’t need to be any more details to give the reader enough information to see exactly what is trying to be shown. There is then enough time to look at the writing and the pictures inserted into work which hold the real messages. They are emphasized by the simplicity. There are no time frames in the pictures; they are very random only connected by a concept. McCloud refers to this as his fifth transition, aspect to aspect. There is no time sequence but an idea or mood or even place is set in the readers mind.
Though neither of these is in the typical comic format they both follow the ideas demonstrated by McCloud. I guess that makes these ideas even more universal and versatile.
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3 comments:
I too saw McCloud's concept of Amplification through Simplification was intruiging. The use of geometry to represent something real like a tree or a flag was a really good observation. If done right, simplicity can often times be better than a complex image surrounded by text.
i agree and share interest with you in the amplification through simplification. I wrote about that also. I think its very intriguing how effective it is. However, I look back to one of my old drum instructors who always said "less is more". Anyways, you're a solid writer and it sure sounds like you got a grasp on what you're doing. Keep it up!
i agree that Carpenter uses closure to fill in a lot of the gaps in his work. There isn't a long explanation of a lot of the background in his work, but a lot of it can just be assumed.
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