Zine: In-Depth- Container/Context Proposal

The concept of my container is a childproof toy box. I believe that creating a container similar to the idea of a briefcase would reinforce the overall feel of adulthood and development. I want the container to perceive unappealing to children (boring). Extremely minimal and clean to give a sophisticated look to the zine while still being capable to bring out the inner child in adults.

Narrative:Outside Visits- Art Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman is a cartoonist who is best known for his graphic novel Maus. At the Miami Book Fair Spiegelman focused mostly on his current work. His current book is called The Parade and it is an artist odyssey of Si Lewins paintings. It was created to represent the marching parades of people from the end of WWI to WWII to then end at the Korean War. Spiegelman stated that this was his way of sending a message to my generation and future generations to come. The end of one war is the beginning of another and to avoid this cycle we must be aware. That is why he created the book in an accordion format, so that the painting/pages speak to one another. They are passing the message down from one painting to the next.

Art Spiegelman also chose to not include any text making the book's message based off the images inside of it. The images are so powerful and have so much meaning that to add text would just distract from the true message of the work. The images stand strong on its own and not using test also it to be “read” and interpreted by any cultural group in the world. Art Spiegelman is a very successful cartoonist because he is not afraid of what others might think. He has a purpose and a message he wants to get across and he does not hesitate to do so even if that means breaking the rules.

Narrative: Outside Visits- Leela Corman

I visited the Short Stories, Big Ideas presentation with Leela Corman and other masters of short-form comics, narrative illustration, and webcomics such as Drew Weing and Frank Viva at the Miami Book Fair. Jessica Abel moderated the entire discussion, keeping it at a constant flow and engaging these artists to question themselves and their work making them elaborate on their comics underlined meaning.  Leela Corman's collection of short stories called We all Wish for Deadly Force is much spoken about in the discussion. Corman approached each question Abel gave her very humorous and lightly. However the content of the book is based on devastating personal loss, World War II in Poland, and the beauty of belly dancing.

Leela Corman based her book mostly on personal experiences. She stated that her family was in the Holocaust and that many studies show epigenetic inheritance in many holocaust survivors offspring. She then expanded on the idea of transgenerational trauma which is the idea that trauma marks are passed down from generation to generation. Meaning that if for any reason your ancestors underwent some type of trauma the same trauma marks can be found in your DNA. Corman also discussed her illustration technique. She explained that she was professionally trained as a painter and that is where all her classical skill derives from. When Corman decided to go into cartooning she quickly realized she had to abandon her classical skill and go back to the start. As she continued illustrating she soon came across watercolor and that is when she was able to find a middle ground, a place where she could mix the two.

Narrative: Small Works - Mood/Action/Topic

joyful•facebook•argument 

Narrative: Small Works - Sequential Art

Narrative: Readings- Comics Poetry

This article by Alexander Rothman explored a concept of Comics Poetry that I had little to no knowledge of. This hybrid form that comics and poetry create has allowed many works of art to be interpreted differently. Unlike novels and essays, poetry is merely just words without the need to have an argument or plot. This allows illustrations to contradict, reinforce, change, or complete poetry. It gives room to play with words and imagery allowing the reader/ audience to unpuzzle and discover their own meaning. According to Rothman poetry's “basic unit is juxtaposition: place two or more images next to each other, and some semiotic impulse in our minds can’t help but connect them. As humans we always attempt to find connections especially if things are arranged sequentially or in an array. I personally agree with Rothman that “an under-appreciated aspect of comics is the reader's ability to apprehend a page or spread all at once.”

The way we read comics poetry deals a lot with the way the artist placed and arranged the text and images on the page or spread. It can either give or change meaning to images or aspects of the text. Warren Craghead placed the word “listen” above a drawing of a WII cannon for example making us question the placement or word choice in that case. A comics poetry should not simply just reproduce literary aspects but reinforce or change it like Craghead stated “duplication is deadweight”. I believe that Rothman gave a broad enough definition and explanation of comic poetry that it has allowed me to make my own assumptions and conclusions from it.

Landscapes: In-Depth- Invisible Cities

Landscapes: Small Works- The Garden