Dialogue in comics
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Kai Mikkonen
Abstract
This paper focuses on the dialogue form in comics as a key narrative device, and examines the main elements and narrative functions that characterise scenes of talk in comics. The goal is to develop a medium-specific understanding of the dialogue form in comics. The starting point is the multimodal character of conversational exchange in comics. This requires a focus on the interaction between the utterance and the elements of the narrative drawing, that is, the ways in which the dialogue form (as written and drawn speech) interacts with what is shown in the image. Crucial aspects of graphic showing in scenes of talk in comics are facial expressions, gestures, body language and shape, and participant involvement. Equally, the expressive functions of typography and pictorial symbols, onomatopoeia, as well as graphic style, panel framing, and page layout, can play a major role.
Abstract
This paper focuses on the dialogue form in comics as a key narrative device, and examines the main elements and narrative functions that characterise scenes of talk in comics. The goal is to develop a medium-specific understanding of the dialogue form in comics. The starting point is the multimodal character of conversational exchange in comics. This requires a focus on the interaction between the utterance and the elements of the narrative drawing, that is, the ways in which the dialogue form (as written and drawn speech) interacts with what is shown in the image. Crucial aspects of graphic showing in scenes of talk in comics are facial expressions, gestures, body language and shape, and participant involvement. Equally, the expressive functions of typography and pictorial symbols, onomatopoeia, as well as graphic style, panel framing, and page layout, can play a major role.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Creating characters through dialogue
- Pragmatic stylistics and dramatic dialogue 19
- Dialogue and character in 21st century TV drama 37
- Look who’s talking 55
- All talk 77
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Part II. Involvement, audience design and social interaction
- Studying everyday conversation 95
- Dialogic interactions on radio 117
- Dialogism in journalistic discourse 137
- Friends and followers ‘in the know’ 155
- Dialogue with computers 179
-
Part III. Playfulness and narrative functions of dialogue
- Dialogue in Audiophonic Fiction 205
- Dialogue in comics 225
- Dialogue in video games 251
- Dialogue and interaction in role-playing games 271
- Index 291
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Creating characters through dialogue
- Pragmatic stylistics and dramatic dialogue 19
- Dialogue and character in 21st century TV drama 37
- Look who’s talking 55
- All talk 77
-
Part II. Involvement, audience design and social interaction
- Studying everyday conversation 95
- Dialogic interactions on radio 117
- Dialogism in journalistic discourse 137
- Friends and followers ‘in the know’ 155
- Dialogue with computers 179
-
Part III. Playfulness and narrative functions of dialogue
- Dialogue in Audiophonic Fiction 205
- Dialogue in comics 225
- Dialogue in video games 251
- Dialogue and interaction in role-playing games 271
- Index 291
