Through the panels: Application of comics as a special type of visual narrative media

Abstract

This thesis is intended to consider and examine how comics can be applied as a visual narrative tool for different purposes, due to its special features. Through the theoretical research and practical application of comics, this work explores what are the advantages and possibilities of using this visual narrative instrument for the big range of tasks from documentation to abstract art. The first part of this research presents summary of the essential elements of comics, which make this media a unique instrument for conveying different information. This part of the study serves as a base for explaining the work of this visual narrative tool and highlights such comics language features as equality of time and space, equality of text and image, the anatomy of comics including the grid, panel, bubble, as well as possibilities for creating a parallel narrative, and includes a short review of the main rules of comics perception. In the second part, research presents a categorization of areas of comics application, such as adaptation, documentation, instructing and abstract art and how previously defined features can be used depending on specific goals and objectives. The last part of the work is a result of application of previous findings and categorization in my own artistic practice, the processes and outputs being documented. The research confirms the initial hypothesis, that comics could work as a powerful instrument for varieties of purposes and has a great potential for future application due to its special language and unique combination of features.