Response to "Vocabulary of Comics"

            In his article “Vocabulary of Comics”, Scott McCloud attempts to prove that most things people see are in fact icons; things that represent an actual object. He argues that when we see a picture and say this is (object) that what we are actually saying is this is an icon representing (object).

            This relates to the article “Argument as Conversation” in that they both are trying to prove that one thing is not what we normally see it as. In “Argument as Conversation” it is trying to be proven that Arguments are not actually bad things, but just a conversation taken a different way.

            I think that “Vocabulary of Comics” was really thought provoking. When McCloud was talking about the pipe, I felt as if my head was going to explode. It got me thinking more about reality, than the story itself. I’m not sure if that was McCloud’s intent, but it was very interesting nonetheless.

Before you Read

            My favorite cartoon is Fry from the TV show Futurama. I definitely, or at least hope, I do not relate too much to Fry. He is clueless and just stupid in general. I definitely put myself in his place though, which is why I think the show is so entertaining. I think it is fun to be someone who you are not, which would be me becoming Fry when I watch Futurama.

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

1.)

            I think adults enjoy the simplicity of cartoons because they can create any feeling at anytime. Cartoons do not need to follow any logic, nor do they need to be illogical. The possibility of a cartoon is endless. I do not think there is an appropriate age for cartoons or comics, nor should there be. McCloud would definitely agree with me here.

2.)

            McCloud uses the comic book format to convey his ideas to the reader because it’s very image based just like his message. He wants to show his readers that everything that says it is something is not necessarily that thing. Without using the comic book form this message would be a lot harder to explain.

3.)

            I think that if the comic character looked more realistic that we would be more distracted. I personally would think that it would be cheesy. With his approach, the simple character, it had a more ‘fun’ feel to it. I would say that most cartoon characters are ‘blank slates’, with the exception of some (Fry from Futurama as I stated earlier). For a character to be a ‘blank slate’ I think that they would have to not be a highly developed character. The character has to have ‘gaps’ in his/her personality where we can make things up as we watch/read.

Applying and Exploring Ideas

1.)

            I think that visual imagery can really help when it comes to learning. The more information put out for people to study the better I think. I can’t think of a time when visual imagery for teaching would be a bad thing.

2.)

            I think McCloud contented that we see ourselves more generic than real people because we never talk to ourselves from an outside perspective. I have looked at a photograph and identified with the person. If someone is expressing an emotion in a photo one can easily relate to that person.

3.)

            I think some adults grow out of cartoons because they don’t take enough time to fill in the gaps needed to indentify with the characters. They are too preoccupied thinking about things that they ‘need to get done’ such as work or something than to sit down, relax, and use their imaginations.

4.)

            McCloud’s concept of the mask affects my perception of myself and others in that it gives me an identity and I can then compare it to what I see/think of others to make an opinion of them. Without my mask I wouldn’t be able to be aware of others, I would think that everyone is the same because I have no point of reference to judge them by.