ENG235 UofT

What does German Expressionism depict?

Intense fear of authority and chaos, often using shadows to convey mood.

It emerged during the Weimar Republic, reflecting societal chaos and fear.

Bleed

A printing term for when an image or artwork extends beyond the final trimmed edge of the page, ensuring no unwanted white borders appear on the final printed product. When a comic is printed, it is produced on a larger sheet and trimmed down to its final size. Bleed ensures that if the cutting process is slightly misaligned, there are no unwanted white, unprinted edges on the final product

Border / Frame:

The outline or edge around a panel or caption. An open border or frame means one or more sides are missing for dramatic effect.

Caption

A text box, separate from a speech or thought balloon, that typically provides narrative commentary, context, or a character's internal monologue

Close-up

A shot that tightly frames a subject, often a character's head and shoulders or face, to emphasize emotion or detail

Diegetic

Refers to elements of the story that occur within the fictional world of the narrative and are therefore visible to the characters

Dutch angle

Also known as a canted or oblique angle, this is a shot where the horizon line is tilted, making the vertical lines of the frame appear slanted. It is typically used to create a sense of unease, disorientation, or tension

Extreme close-up

A very tight shot that focuses on a small detail of a subject, such as a character's eyes or lips, to highlight intense emotion or a critical object

Floating caption

A caption that appears without a standard rectangular border or frame, often overlayed directly on the artwork

Grid / Layout

The structural arrangement or pattern of panels on a comic book page. A consistent grid provides a steady reading rhythm, while varied layouts can add drama

Half-splash

A page design where one panel takes up approximately half of the page, with the remaining space often divided into several smaller panels

High-angle shot

A shot where the "camera" is positioned above the subject, looking down. This angle often makes the subject appear vulnerable, small, or

weak

Inset panel

A smaller panel that appears within the area of a larger dominant panel. It is often used to zoom in on an important detail or show a simultaneous action without cutting away from the main scene

Kirby Dots / Kirby Krackle

An artistic convention popularized by artist Jack Kirby in which fields of black, blob-like dots are used to represent generic, unspecific cosmic energy, explosions, or space phenomena.

Long shot

A panel shot that displays the entire subject (e.g., a character head to toe) and a significant amount of the surrounding environment, often used to establish location and context

Low-angle shot

A panel where the perspective is from below the subject, looking up, which typically makes the character or object appear dominant, powerful, or imposing

Medium shot

A common shot type that frames a character from the waist or knees up (torso up is common), balancing the subject with some surrounding details and showing body language and interaction

Montage panel

A single large panel that contains several smaller images or scenes seamlessly flowing together, giving a sense of accelerated time or

summarizing a sequence of events

Open panel

Also referred to as a borderless panel, this is a panel where one or more sides of the frame are left out, creating a dramatic effect and allowing the artwork to "bleed" into the surrounding page or gutter space

Panorama panel

A panel with a wide, horizontal aspect ratio, often used to depict expansive landscapes or wide action scene

Polymorphic panel

A panel that changes shape or form throughout a sequence

to reflect changes in a character's state, the story's mood, or simply for visual

variety in the layout

Tier

A single horizontal row of panels on a comic book page.

Spread / Double splash

An image that extends across two consecutive pages. A double splash is a single large image spanning both pages, while a spread can incorporate multiple panels but still has a large connecting element across the two pages

Onomatopoeia

The use of words that phonetically mimic the sound they describe (e.g., "Pow!", "Splat!", "Boom!"), commonly appearing as stylized text

within or outside of panels in comics.

Thought bubble

A text container that uses a cloud-like shape with a trail of small bubbles connecting it to the character's head, indicating their unspoken

thoughts or inner monologue

Word balloon

Also known as a speech bubble or dialogue balloon, it is a graphic convention used to contain a character's spoken words, connected to the speaker by a tail or pointer

Primary colors

In traditional color theory applied to comics, red, blue, and yellow are the fundamental colors, often used for superhero costumes (e.g., Superman, Spider-Man)

Secondary colors

The colors created by mixing two primary colors (green, orange, and purple). These were historically often used for supervillain costumes in contrast to the hero's colors (e.g., Joker, Green Goblin)

Wash

A visual arts technique, typically involving diluted ink or watercolor, where a semi-transparent layer of color is applied smoothly over a large area, often in conjunction with pen-and-ink drawings to add depth, volume, or atmosphere.

Sequential Art

comes to us from Will Eisner. It's not a comic when it's just one image, so it matters when there is more than one image. Individually, the pictures are merely pictures but together they become sequential art.

the "father" of the comic strip

Rodolphe Topffer, In 1837, he started taking these caricatured images and drawing lines between them to make it sequential art

Taking the caricature form and made it into sequential art, so he's called the father of the comic strip

What is visual literacy?

The ability to decipher objects and symbols, helping navigate ideas in a visual world.

What was the first comic book to contain all original material?

New Fun, published by Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935.

What is the Codex Zouche Nuttall?

A pre-Columbian codex considered the first comic, telling the story of 8-Deer Tiger's Claw.

What is the gutter in comics?

The space between panels that helps structure the narrative.

What does McCloud mean by 'Amplification through Simplification'?

The concept that simplified images can effectively represent complex ideas, such as faces.

What is the role of tiers in comic panels?

They act like paragraphs, structuring narrative flow and signaling changes in time or location.

How does Jack Kirby influence the movement through comic pages?

He uses zigzag patterns and circular movements to guide the reader's eye.

What is foreshortening in comics?

A technique that creates the illusion of depth and perspective in character poses.

What was the first pamphlet comic published by Max Gaines?

Funnies, which was a precursor to the color comic format.

What does closure mean in the context of comics?

The mental process of connecting moments between panels to create a continuous narrative.

What is a splash page in comics?

A comic book page that is taken up by a single panel, often used to highlight a dramatic moment.

What is diegetic in the context of comics?

Elements that exist within the story's world.

What does the term 'polymorphic panel' refer to?

A panel that depicts multiple stages of movement within a single image.

Define fabula in narrative theory.

The raw material of a story, including the plot and its details.

What is syuzhet?

The way a story is organized or arranged, often differing from the chronological order of the fabula.

What is visual irony in comics?

Irony inferred by the reader based on minimal cues, rather than being explicitly present in the image.

What is the role of underground comix?

To depict socially relevant and often satirical material, often forbidden by the Comics Code Authority (CCA).

It forbade depictions of drug use, se*uality, blood, and other controversial topics.

What is metafiction?

Fiction that self-consciously addresses the devices of fiction, blurring the lines between narrator, subject, and creator.

What does the term 'communicative memory' refer to?

A type of collective memory based on everyday communication within a group, often spanning multiple generations.

It suggests that memory is shaped by social norms and expectations.

What is the significance of the anthology 'Raw'?

It featured alternative comic writers and was considered an intellectual counterpoint to mainstream comics.

What is dramatic irony?

A situation where the audience knows something that the characters do not, leading to unexpected turns of events.

What is verbal irony?

A form of irony where someone says the opposite of what they mean, often akin to sarcasm.

What is the lifespan of communicative memory?

Typically 80-100 years or three generations.

According to Dori Laub, what is essential for the testimony of trauma?

Someone must be there to witness and hear the story of trauma.

What does the term 'postmemory' refer to?

The relation between the generation after those who witnessed cultural or collective trauma and the experiences of those who came before.

How do children of survivors often process trauma?

By writing memoirs about their parents' trauma.

What does Hirsch say about second-generation narratives?

They are shaped by the attempt to represent the long-term effects of living close to the pain of historical trauma.

What is the role of the listener in the context of trauma testimony?

The listener is part of the creation of knowledge about the trauma.

What is the impact of postmemory on the second generation?

They remember experiences through images and narratives transmitted from their parents.

What does the term 'embedded memory' refer to in the context of trauma?

It refers to memories that are physically and emotionally tied to traumatic experiences.

What does diegesis mean?

Diegesis means 'narrative' or 'plot', opposite of mimesis, which means 'representing' or 'mirroring'.

What does the term 'Kunstlerroman' refer to?

It is a subgenre of the Bildungsroman focusing on the growth and development of an individual who becomes an artist.

What does Agamben's concept of 'bare life' signify?

It refers to individuals reduced to mere biological existence, stripped of political rights and legal protections.

Zone of indistinction describes spaces where the boundaries between law and lawlessness blur, allowing sovereign power to operate without legal constraints.

State of exception - A condition where individuals can be stripped of their political life and reduced to bare life.

What does the term 'traumatic realism' refer to in the context of Maus?

It describes the graphic portrayal of trauma that allows readers to approach the survivor's experiences more closely.

What does 'defiance of erasure' mean in the context of survivor narratives?

It refers to the act of living with pride and sharing one's story to demonstrate that perpetrators have not completely destroyed the victim's identity.

How does the concept of 'educational resistance' manifest in survivor testimonies?

Survivor testimonies serve as powerful tools to educate others about the dangers of hatred and the importance of human rights.

Paradigms

Apollonian Paradigm - A hero that maintains order and prevents chaos.

Dionysian Paradigm - A hero that embraces change and often uses violence.

What philosophical concept is associated with Dr. Manhattan's worldview?

Philosophical determinism, where he believes the universe is set in stone.

What does Rorschach's character represent in terms of morality?

He embodies a nihilistic worldview, believing meaning must be imposed through strict justice.

What does the term 'all at once temporality' refer to in comics?

The ability to perceive multiple moments in a narrative simultaneously before reading them in detail.

What does the term 'psychological realism' refer to in Watchmen?

It highlights the complex characters and dense storytelling that reflect real psychological struggles.

What is chiaroscuro?

A technique using strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume.

French Revolution

caricatures of political figures by James Gillray, mostly published 1792-1810. This is when caricatures and cartooning became popular in Europe

Punch Magazine

The 1830s and 40s saw the advent of Cartoonist Magazines in England, the most famous one called Punch. These were really popular, and unsurprisingly a lot of them were super deeply racist

What are glyphs and pictograms used for in comics?

To represent sounds, words, or concepts in narratives.

What is the significance of color and shading in comics?

They can alter mood, indicate flashbacks, or emphasize action.

What is the impact of caricatures in early comics?

They reflected societal attitudes, often emphasizing difference and fear of immigrants.

What are the functions of visual systems in comics?

They serve as mnemonic devices, religious texts, and historical records.

How did the Katzenjammer Kids influence comic strips?

It was a tremendously popular comic strip that contributed to the evolution of comic art.

What does McCloud suggest about the perception of faces in simplified images?

Humans recognize simplified images as faces due to evolutionary factors.

Who was Vladimir Propp?

A Russian critic known for his work on narrative structure and the concept of fabula and syuzhet.

What is the role of art in relation to history, according to Spiegelman?

Art serves as the conscience of history, confronting the ugly truths of the past.

What does the term 'rhyming panels' refer to?

A technique in sequential art that shows differences within sameness, enhancing the narrative.

How does the concept of biopolitics relate to sovereign power?

Biopolitics, a term from Michel Foucault, describes how modern sovereign powers organize and control life, often leading to the dehumanization of individuals.

How does Simon de Beauvoir define absolute evil?

Absolute evil occurs when one reduces another person to an object, denying their subjectivity and humanity.

What philosophical stance is associated with Jean-Paul Sartre?

Existentialism, which posits that existence precedes essence, meaning individuals create their own identity and purpose.

What role does storytelling play in the context of trauma and survival?

Storytelling serves as a means of bearing witness, preserving memory, and empowering survivors to reclaim their narratives.

How does the act of bearing witness contribute to historical memory?

Bearing witness ensures that the experiences of victims are documented and remembered, preventing erasure of their stories.

How does Maus reflect on the legacy of trauma?

It highlights how trauma affects future generations, emphasizing the ongoing impact rather than providing closure.

What does the Greek word 'zoē' refer to in Agamben's theory?

Bare life and animal life

How does sovereign power affect individuals according to Agamben?

It strips them of political rights and legal protection, making their lives killable without consequence.

What does Agamben suggest we do in response to sovereign power?

Humanize people and resist viewing them as bare life.

According to Schmidt, who is the sovereign?

The one who can declare exceptions to the law.

What political truth does Auschwitz reveal for Agamben?

The possibility of a space where humans can become bare life, making them killable.

What does biopolitics refer to in Agamben's context?

The modern organization of life by sovereign powers, a term from Michel Foucault.

What does Simone de Beauvoir argue about subjectivity?

Refusing to acknowledge someone else's subjectivity is an act of absolute evil.

What is the existentialist philosophy associated with Jean-Paul Sartre?

Existence precedes essence, meaning we create our own essence through our choices.

What does the term 'educational resistance' refer to?

Teaching new generations to recognize and combat hatred.

What significant change did Alan Moore bring to comics in the 1980s?

He transformed the comic book industry with innovative storytelling and themes.