1. CCT 300: Critical Analysis of Media Class 4: Critical Analysis and McCloud

2. Critical Analysis What does this mean? How does one do it? “There are no rules…and here they are.” (McCloud, 2006) What does this mean? How does one do it? “There are no rules…and here they are.” (McCloud, 2006)

3. Major components Clarity Accuracy Precision Relevance Depth Breadth Logic Significance Fairness Clarity Accuracy Precision Relevance Depth Breadth Logic Significance Fairness

4. Good traits to develop… Humility vs. arrogance Courage vs. cowardice Empathy vs. Closemindedness Autonomy vs. Conformity Integrity vs. Hypocrisy Perserverance vs. Laziness Reason vs. Unfounded Distrust Fairmindedness vs. Bias Humility vs. arrogance Courage vs. cowardice Empathy vs. Closemindedness Autonomy vs. Conformity Integrity vs. Hypocrisy Perserverance vs. Laziness Reason vs. Unfounded Distrust Fairmindedness vs. Bias

5. Representation in Comics Moment Frame Image Word Flow (2006) Moment Frame Image Word Flow (2006)

6. Moment Comics must represent transition visually Comics must guide the reader’s sense of closure (or, leave the reader to guess the story…) Comics must represent transition visually Comics must guide the reader’s sense of closure (or, leave the reader to guess the story…)

7. Types of Moment Change Moment-to-Moment Action-to-Action Subject-to-Subject Scene-to-Scene Aspect-to-Aspect Non-Sequitur Moment-to-Moment Action-to-Action Subject-to-Subject Scene-to-Scene Aspect-to-Aspect Non-Sequitur

8. Differences in Representing Moment North American/European comics vs. Japanese - content analysis shows different ratios of moment transition Experimental comics also break with “standard” ratios North American/European comics vs. Japanese - content analysis shows different ratios of moment transition Experimental comics also break with “standard” ratios

9. Frame Comics must focus reader’s attention on particular elements Creating sense of place, position, focus Similar to other visual media (e.g., film, photography) Comics must focus reader’s attention on particular elements Creating sense of place, position, focus Similar to other visual media (e.g., film, photography)

10. Framing elements “Camera” angle Distance and perspective Detail (or lack thereof) Symmetry and centering Others? “Camera” angle Distance and perspective Detail (or lack thereof) Symmetry and centering Others?

11. Image Comics must represent characters, objects, environments, symbols Or not - sometimes comics deliberately leave details vague to encourage reader participation in closure Comics must represent characters, objects, environments, symbols Or not - sometimes comics deliberately leave details vague to encourage reader participation in closure

12. Image elements Level of detail Photorealism vs. iconography Expression (especially facial expression) Body Language Level of detail Photorealism vs. iconography Expression (especially facial expression) Body Language

13. Word Comics mix visual and literal forms Much more so than other visual media A picture might equal 1000 words, but words can quickly contextualize and represent pictures Comics mix visual and literal forms Much more so than other visual media A picture might equal 1000 words, but words can quickly contextualize and represent pictures

14. Word/image interplay Word specific Image specific Duo specific Additive/intersecting Interdependent Parallel Montage Word specific Image specific Duo specific Additive/intersecting Interdependent Parallel Montage

15. Flow Comics as sequential art - sequence of images becomes important Moment, frame, image, word work together to create (or sabotage) flow Comics as sequential art - sequence of images becomes important Moment, frame, image, word work together to create (or sabotage) flow

16. Flow issues Cultural norms (e.g., North American/European - left to right - other cultures differ) Breaking norms (experimental comics) Extent to which creator guides flow Cultural norms (e.g., North American/European - left to right - other cultures differ) Breaking norms (experimental comics) Extent to which creator guides flow

17. Breaking the rules… Culture jamming - what it is and what it does Depends on understanding genre and either subverting 1) message or 2) form Similar to experimental/alternative work in all genres Culture jamming - what it is and what it does Depends on understanding genre and either subverting 1) message or 2) form Similar to experimental/alternative work in all genres

18. Next Week… Look at culture jamming sites - what works? What doesn’t?