On the History and Hermeneutics of Comics
What is a comic? The simple answer states that a comic is a drawn story that is picture- rather than text-oriented and told serially. In other words, a comic is a type of illustration. Realism is not its goal; rather a narrative is developed through reduction according to specific stylistic means. I...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Karl Franzens Universität Graz
2017-05-01
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| Series: | Journal for Religion, Film and Media |
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| Online Access: | http://unipub.uni-graz.at/jrfm/periodical/titleinfo/1927222 |
| _version_ | 1819043140650139648 |
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| author | Wessely, Christian |
| author_facet | Wessely, Christian |
| author_sort | Wessely, Christian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | What is a comic? The simple answer states that a comic is a drawn story that is picture- rather than text-oriented and told serially. In other words, a comic is a type of illustration. Realism is not its goal; rather a narrative is developed through reduction according to specific stylistic means. I start this article with a definition of the term “comic”, and move on to highlight the complexity of the comic and to argue that insight into this complexity is necessary for its correct interpretation. Only then can we recognise that the comic is not only entertaining but also, in its own way, a vehicle for content that might be system confirming and propagandistic but can also be system critical. Doing so allows us to see the potential of the comic that is embedded in its particular affinity with nonlinear interactive audiovisual media. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:52:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f8b257ec4454ef5b32678d8df3bb022 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-0201 2414-0201 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:52:03Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | Karl Franzens Universität Graz |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal for Religion, Film and Media |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f8b257ec4454ef5b32678d8df3bb0222022-12-21T19:08:09ZengKarl Franzens Universität GrazJournal for Religion, Film and Media2414-02012414-02012017-05-0131174410.25364/05.3:2017.1.2On the History and Hermeneutics of ComicsWessely, ChristianWhat is a comic? The simple answer states that a comic is a drawn story that is picture- rather than text-oriented and told serially. In other words, a comic is a type of illustration. Realism is not its goal; rather a narrative is developed through reduction according to specific stylistic means. I start this article with a definition of the term “comic”, and move on to highlight the complexity of the comic and to argue that insight into this complexity is necessary for its correct interpretation. Only then can we recognise that the comic is not only entertaining but also, in its own way, a vehicle for content that might be system confirming and propagandistic but can also be system critical. Doing so allows us to see the potential of the comic that is embedded in its particular affinity with nonlinear interactive audiovisual media.http://unipub.uni-graz.at/jrfm/periodical/titleinfo/1927222History of comicshermeneutic of comicsillustrative languagedissident potentialpropagandistic potential |
| spellingShingle | Wessely, Christian On the History and Hermeneutics of Comics Journal for Religion, Film and Media History of comics hermeneutic of comics illustrative language dissident potential propagandistic potential |
| title | On the History and Hermeneutics of Comics |
| title_full | On the History and Hermeneutics of Comics |
| title_fullStr | On the History and Hermeneutics of Comics |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the History and Hermeneutics of Comics |
| title_short | On the History and Hermeneutics of Comics |
| title_sort | on the history and hermeneutics of comics |
| topic | History of comics hermeneutic of comics illustrative language dissident potential propagandistic potential |
| url | http://unipub.uni-graz.at/jrfm/periodical/titleinfo/1927222 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wesselychristian onthehistoryandhermeneuticsofcomics |