Week 2: Understanding Comics

This week, I read Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art by Scott McCloud. It's an interesting take on a way to educate people about the history of comics and the importance of the elements within it. Although the story's purpose is educational, it does not feel like I am reading a textbook. It is enjoyable to read because it's a comic, and it is ironic because it's a comic making explanations about comics. For starters, I learned about the significance of icons in comics and how they play with our brains. I was never self-aware of how seeing illustrations of words like "SPLAT!" and how viewing sequential artwork manipulated with my mind. Now, whenever I read comics or view artwork in general, I will be thinking about how the brain will make sense of anything it sees. This is also something I learned in my Creative Geometry class; our brains will make a story out of anything for it to make sense.

It was also pointed out to me through this comic about how we see ourselves in everything. We as a species tend to make things out to appear like human faces, whether it be a car or an outlet as pictured above. Overall, Understanding Comics made me understand far more than just cartoons.