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McCloud also highlights the differences between iconic and realistic figures. Iconic figures can be compared to a standard cartoon, while realistic figures focus more on photo-quality in terms of detail. He states that
Western culture is captivated by iconic images more so due to their simplicity. He
135:. It explores formal aspects of comics, the historical development of the medium, its fundamental vocabulary, and various ways in which these elements have been used. It expounds theoretical ideas about comics as an art form and medium of communication, and is itself written in comic book form.
27:
490:
One of the book's concepts is "The Big
Triangle", a tool for thinking about different styles of comics art. McCloud places the realistic representation in the bottom left corner, with iconic representation, or cartoony art, in the bottom right, and a third identifier,
378:
The book's overarching argument is that comics are defined by the primacy of sequences of images. McCloud also introduced the concept of "closure" to refer to a reader's role in closing narrative gaps between comics panels. The book argues that comics employ
171:). Although the book has prompted debate over many of McCloud’s conclusions, its discussions of "iconic" art and the concept of "closure" between panels have become common reference points in discussions of the medium.
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as in many ways "the father of the modern comic". McCloud emphasizes Töpffer's use of "cartooning and panel borders" along with "the first interdependent combination of words and pictures seen in Europe".
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is a wide-ranging exploration of the definition, history, vocabulary, and methods of the medium of comics. An attempt to formalize the study of comics, it is itself in comics form.
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in 1994 for Best
Graphic Album/Original Material and Best Biographical, Historical or Journalistic Presentation. In addition, McCloud won the 1994 Harvey Award for Best Writer.
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provides a full comparison and breakdown of iconic and realistic images and gives an interesting explanation of his reasoning behind this statement.
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Brooks, Kevin (2009). "More 'Seriously
Visible' Reading: McCloud, McLuhan, and the Visual Language of "The Medium Is the Massage"".
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and a history of narrative in visual media. McCloud mentions, among other early works of graphic narrative, the
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of image, at the apex of the triangle. This allows placement and grouping of artists by
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for Best
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for Best Non-Fiction Work. McCloud previewed the book at the August 1992
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The book was called "one of the most insightful books about designing
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Cartoonist Dylan
Horrock's rebuttal of McCloud’s definition of comics
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Comics & Culture: Analytical and
Theoretical Approaches to Comics
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Harvey Award winners for Best
Graphic Album of Original Work
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because they rely on the reader's choices and interactions.
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1004:. New York: Harper Collins & Kitchen Sink Press. 1994.
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It was parodied again, in Tim
Heiderich and Mike Rosen's
868:"Inventing Comics: Scott McCloud's Definition of Comics"
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Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
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Magnussen, Anne; Christiansen, Hans-Christian (2000).
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Trudeau, Garry. "Understanding Comics—Scott McCloud",
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1125:"Kickstart From The Heart – Misunderstanding Comics"
920:. Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 13, 14, 23, 49.
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The book begins with a discussion of the concept of
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1039:"1994 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees"
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206:#200 (Apr. 1992); that issue later won the 1992
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463:. This may function, McCloud infers, as a
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479:detailed character allows for a stronger
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830:10.1109/TPC.1998.661632
632:Misunderstanding Comics
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220:was first published by
131:by American cartoonist
1347:Books by Scott McCloud
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228:have been released by
212:Comics Arts Conference
31:Cover of the original
634:, self-published via
537:Best Non-Fiction Book
182:'s seminal 1964 work
1357:Paradox Press titles
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1153:Understanding Comics
1146:Understanding Comics
962:, pp. 157, 170.
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617:Understanding Comics
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508:Understanding Comics
396:Understanding Comics
381:nonlinear narratives
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218:Understanding Comics
198:Understanding Comics
176:Understanding Comics
139:Understanding Comics
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1157:at ScottMcCloud.com
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889:The Horn Book Guide
687:on the same subject
683:, earlier book by
423:dramatic convention
192:Publication history
185:Understanding Media
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1387:Educational comics
1367:Books about comics
1287:The Morning Improv
1251:Reinventing Comics
871:The Comics Journal
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355:Reinventing Comics
230:Kitchen Sink Press
208:Don Thompson Award
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113:Reinventing Comics
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873:#234 (June 2001).
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577:Along with
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461:backgrounds
458:spectacular
454:verisimilar
250:Mark Martin
226:reprintings
159:Neil Gaiman
151:Will Eisner
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1336:Categories
1093:2018-01-19
731:References
533:Hugo Award
446:juxtaposed
444:, even if
442:characters
435:archetypal
244:line, and
155:Alan Moore
1272:Webcomics
638:in 2012.
481:emotional
477:minimally
439:narrative
317:Hardcover
261:Softcover
234:DC Comics
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