Comments | american_arcane: Comics and Culture

american_arcane

Comics and Culture

Apr 26, 2006 11:53

Those of you out there who are really into comics--not just the characters and the stories but the medium itself--probably already know Scott McCloud. He wrote Understanding Comics, considered by many to be one of (if not The) definitive (comic) book about the comic book.

I just stumbled across his website for the first time. There is a lot of ( Read more... )

comics, technology, culture, storytelling, v for vendetta, art

Comments 13

eriss April 26 2006, 09:29:31 UTC

Speaking of comics, I am suprised that you don't have Warren Ellis on your flist.

american_arcane April 26 2006, 10:27:35 UTC

Yeah... every now and then I'm surprised by that, too... I should do something about that. :)

Actually, I was just commenting to someone (maybe in a comment stream somewhere) that I missed out on a lot of the really good comics growing up beause I was the only one I knew reading comics regularly. It wasn't until well into college (and long after I had run out of money to support my comic book habit) that I even heard of people like Ellis, Moore, Gaiman and any number of other totally awesome writers/artists/creators.

I have yet to have the time/money/ambition (or maybe I'm just missing one of those) to catch up on all the stuff I've missed. :(

Someday, though.... someday... :)

eriss April 26 2006, 10:38:00 UTC

You can just add him for free: http://warren-ellis.livejournal.com/profile

american_arcane April 26 2006, 11:25:43 UTC

Well, I could...

But I always get distract.... ooooh! Something Shiny!

:)

Thread 5

qlipoth April 26 2006, 09:39:02 UTC

I secretly suspect that the fact that "Understanding comics" is the definitive book on the comic may be why comics get so little respeect.

I hated that book, and I AGREE with it's premise!

By the end of the book, I just had an image of a Scott McCloud 4 year old, jumping up and down in a temper tantrum screaming "Comics are art! they are! they ARE! THEY ARE!"

american_arcane April 26 2006, 10:31:38 UTC

Good to see you're just as cynical as ever. :)

I don't know... I kind of liked it. I think it lays stuff out in a way that the normal person can understand. I mean, there's no way that book with it's kind of cute presentation is going to convince any major art-world king to change his mind, but for Jow and Jane Average on the streets of America... it could very well get them at least thinking about art and comics in the same vein. (Because, you know, chances are they're either thinking about one or neither... damn cultural abyss out there, I say.)

Regardless of any of that, the comics McCloud has on his site are kind of neat. At least I think so.

So there. :P

:)

qlipoth April 26 2006, 11:19:32 UTC

The comic representation was actually one of my favorite parts about the book, although I can see how it would lead to a bad impression among most 'serious' readers ( ... )

american_arcane April 26 2006, 11:30:08 UTC

Ah, well, that could definitely be a problem if you were expecting design stuff.

See, I came to the book from a completely different angle. I came to it as a writer looking for a way to hybridize my stories.

I think the book does a good job of arguing that comics are a hybrid artform all their own and not just "pictures with words" or "words with pictures".

But I can definitely see why it would annoy you... he dis get a little redundant. Of course, I'd have to say that you're also brighter than the bulk of the population (or at least more willing to use what you've got). Lots of people need that redundancy to get the idea even vaguely lodged between episodes of Jerry Springer and Deal or No Deal. :)

nofcna April 26 2006, 14:42:36 UTC

I don't think I've ever read the whole book, Understanding Comics but I did love the section where he explained the color printing techniques used for comic books. In fact, during college, I photocopy that section and made a shower curtain comic strip (with the curtain below) out of it. Kim and I figured that if guests have to use our bathrooms, they may as well learn something. Gah! that was geeky! LOL

( ... )

akilika April 26 2006, 16:10:08 UTC

All I know about Scott McCloud is that a lot of the webcomics guys were making awful fun of him a while ago. (Led by Penny Arcade, which isn't terribly uncommon.) Something about infinite canvas and possibly being full of one's self.

I dunno. I should read the book someday, I think.

akilika April 26 2006, 16:13:49 UTC

Or . . . was it PVP? Can't remember.

Still, it did seem kind of odd. Should definitely read the book.

Awww... trinity3kim April 26 2006, 17:03:19 UTC

I *heart* Scott! I met him once and was struck by his twinkling eyes :-) Also, quick tangent: I know that many disliked the New Adventures of Abraham Lincoln, but I applaud his willingness to try something different. And I know that the kids really enjoyed the story!