What struck me most about this set of graphic short stories was how much color choices affected the atmosphere of the narratives. The color palette did the work of setting development in written narratives. It helped orient us in space and gave us important clues that graphics have no space to explain in text.
The navy/black/gray of "In Room 208" established the mood of the piece as a sort of hushed, idle perpetual nighttime. This consistent sleepy color palette helped me to imagine the way that the many nights in the bed strung together as the couple continued to extend their stay. The dreaminess of it allowed me to embrace the narrative wandering into the imagined and impractical elements as it progressed.
Colors also served as important signifying markers for the reader such as the distinct red hair of the narrator in "Paint". By introducing us to herself as a bold red-head at the outset, we are able to follow her through changes of scene/flashbacks and feel grounded.
The muted watercolors of "Aubrey" invoke the foggy memories of childhood in England. I found that the dark colors made the panel with the fire stand in even starker contrast to the rest of the story and emphasized the intensity of the moment. The flames seemed such a bright orange against the dark gray smoke and made me think that this particular moment held a special significance in the narrator's life. There's very little back story about the father but just from seeing him standing there watching the shed burn brightly against the gray night we learn so much about him.
In "Cat Sitter" the playful use of color and mismatching patterns tips me off that this story will be more light-hearted. Even the use of the light wood on the floors in the cat-sitting house establishes a certain lightness of mood that sets the reader at ease and prepares them for the humor of the piece.
wow a quickie. Color is significant and sets mood immediately and since we respond to colors viscerally, that makes the story speak more. (the burning shed is a great moment) Since Paint has a different pallet what did you think of it?
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I really enjoyed the wide range of styles the different author/artists used in their pieces. The graphics really intereacted with the text in a way that added something unique. I think the example of the stark brightness of the burning shed is a good example. I agree that the color pallet really indicated the tone of the piece from the beginning. I felt like Paint had both a lively and nostalgic tone. The bold, primary colors made me feel like the narrators life was really illuminated--but that perhaps that is too much for her (especially when she says she is in pain/doesn't want to get out of bed). In the last few panels the narrator and her daughter smear paint everywhere. The colors are just as bright but they are blended, making the shapes indistinguishable. I felt like there was both a playfulness and a deep sadness or reflectiveness. It is silly, but also totally negating the narrators reality and adult responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteI like the phrase that you use of "narrative wandering." A lot of the graphics are so absurd and each subsequent frame heightens the level of absurdity, especially in "Cat Sitter," and quickly brings the reader into a "narrative wandering" journey. Even though the colors were more playful in "Cat Sitter" they were also limited, mostly white / grey / red which held its own severity for me.
ReplyDeleteThe colors Claire, the Claire. Yes I completely agree. The colors in "Cat sitter" stood out a lot to me because there was so few words. Also the red blood on the letter was super telling. The use of colors in "Room 208" were super haunting and completely set the mood for that piece, as you said. Also the use of white in that piece and white space was very effective.
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