The Visual Language of Comics

Introduction to the Structure and Cognition of Sequential Images.

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, Theory, Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Linguistics, Reference
Cover of the book The Visual Language of Comics by Neil Cohn, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Neil Cohn ISBN: 9781441183248
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: December 5, 2013
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic Language: English
Author: Neil Cohn
ISBN: 9781441183248
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: December 5, 2013
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Language: English

Drawings and sequential images are an integral part of human expression dating back at least as far as cave paintings, and in contemporary society appear most prominently in comics. Despite this fundamental part of human identity, little work has explored the comprehension and cognitive underpinnings of visual narratives-until now.

This work presents a provocative theory: that drawings and sequential images are structured the same as language. Building on contemporary theories from linguistics and cognitive psychology, it argues that comics are written in a visual language of sequential images that combines with text. Like spoken and signed languages, visual narratives use a lexicon of systematic patterns stored in memory, strategies for combining these patterns into meaningful units, and a hierarchic grammar governing the combination of sequential images into coherent expressions. Filled with examples and illustrations, this book details each of these levels of structure, explains how cross-cultural differences arise in diverse visual languages of the world, and describes what the newest neuroscience research reveals about the brain's comprehension of visual narratives. From this emerges the foundation for a new line of research within the linguistic and cognitive sciences, raising intriguing questions about the connections between language and the diversity of humans' expressive behaviours in the mind and brain.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Drawings and sequential images are an integral part of human expression dating back at least as far as cave paintings, and in contemporary society appear most prominently in comics. Despite this fundamental part of human identity, little work has explored the comprehension and cognitive underpinnings of visual narratives-until now.

This work presents a provocative theory: that drawings and sequential images are structured the same as language. Building on contemporary theories from linguistics and cognitive psychology, it argues that comics are written in a visual language of sequential images that combines with text. Like spoken and signed languages, visual narratives use a lexicon of systematic patterns stored in memory, strategies for combining these patterns into meaningful units, and a hierarchic grammar governing the combination of sequential images into coherent expressions. Filled with examples and illustrations, this book details each of these levels of structure, explains how cross-cultural differences arise in diverse visual languages of the world, and describes what the newest neuroscience research reveals about the brain's comprehension of visual narratives. From this emerges the foundation for a new line of research within the linguistic and cognitive sciences, raising intriguing questions about the connections between language and the diversity of humans' expressive behaviours in the mind and brain.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book Menopause by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Dinosaur Hunter by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Fashion Drawing by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book At The Inland Sea by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book The Present and the Past by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Effective Planning and Time Management by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Achievement for All by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Black Widow by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book New Essays on the Nature of Rights by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Chasing the Scream by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book My Dad's Gap Year by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Visualizing Feeling by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Under The Skin of The Indian Consumer by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book Authorship and Authority in Kierkegaard's Writings by Neil Cohn
Cover of the book The Fundamental Right to Data Protection by Neil Cohn
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy