For this exercise, I had to read the introduction to ‘The Art of Comics: A Philosophical Approach’ (Meskin & Cook, 2012) and then write a 200-word statement considering some of these questions:
What are comics?
What makes comics art?
How do comics relate to other art forms?
How does collaborative creation affect the nature of comics?
What can we learn about comics from the practice of adaptation?
How do images and text interact to produce content in comics?
What different kinds of comics exist? How do these types differ?
Statement
Comics are a medium that allows us to communicate in a very human way. They engage all the brain and efficiently communicate vast amounts of information and context. They make ideas accessible.
One could say that literature and fine art are a result of our inability to communicate as efficiently in those media. They have pushed their boundaries in search of that efficiency, but have diverged as a result. Technological advances produced comics at a speed that matched their efficiency in communication.
I feel comics have more in common with music than film. Comics can be a solo venture (a singer/songwriter) or as part of an ensemble piece (a choir). In all formats, the resulting voice is a gestalt of all those involved in its creation.
This allows comics to bring depth and sophistication to the way we communicate. Like other art, comics have been able to understand and adapt to technological advancements. This flexibility allows comics to find more efficient ways to communicate ideas. Their balance between verbal and visual allows a great deal of variation and nuance. This allows creators a larger toolbox to pick and choose how best to relate to their audience.
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