This document discusses graphic narratives and graphic novels. It defines graphic novels as narrative works that tell a story using sequential art in either an experimental or traditional comic format. It notes how graphic novels allow readers to make inferences about word meanings and content based on the images. The document also discusses how graphic novels require readers to use their imagination and creativity to envision what happens in the gaps, or "gutters", between panels.

1. Graphic Narratives

2. What is the First thing you think of when you hear Graphic Narrative?

8. When reading a traditional text, it can sometimes be difficult to make predictions about meanings of the words or what is supposedly being said “between the lines”.

10. It’s like that old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

13. From this picture and the appearance of the man, a reader might be able to infer that dauntless and sagacious means standing strong and fearless as well as being intelligent. Of course these aren’t the exact definitions, but for the purposes of reading, it would be close enough.

15. There is definitely a lot being said here through little nuances or the characters’ body language.

16. Imagination and Creativity in Graphic Novels It is common for many people to believe that Graphic Novels do not allow the reader to use their imagination and creativity as they read.

17. They believe that the graphics do not allow you to imagine the scene, but rather presents it there before you.

18. They have a valid argument, but… There is more happening in graphic novels than meets the eye.

19. Closure In Scott McCloud’s book, “Understanding Comics,” McCloud discusses what is called “closure.” Simply put, “closure” is when the mind pieces together cues or evidence given to create a complete image or story.

20. Let me show you what I mean. Closure can have many forms. For many this image or cue can create closure simply because they recognize this as a symbol for Michael Jordan.

21. Closure can also be more complicated But I’ll let this scan from Scott McCloud’s book explain this part.

22. So what does closure have to do with comics? Closure for comics is quite similar. According to the definition in the dictionary closure in comics is, “ the process by which the mind fills in missing details between the panels of a comic ” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closure

23. This space between the panels is called the gutter by some, but lets see what Scott McCloud has to say about the gutter.

25. This is where imagination comes into the reading of a Graphic Novel. It is in this gap between panels that the reader’s imagination is allowed to create what is not seen. It’s this gap that allows the reader to use creativity and imagination , giving the graphics motion and action apart from what is drawn. It is the comic equivalent of separating words and sentences with spaces.