Thoughts
In a recent blog on dating and relationships, which can be seen here: http://www.datingoutlook.com/wtf/ Sandy asks for a translator to help decode a message with a possible ulterior motive. She doesn’t need a translator, which she needs is a thought balloon. I took the last part of a twelve hour class on communication today, and what did I learn? Even in that class, it was clear that we cannot know what anybody else is thinking at any given time, we are not mind readers. My point goes back to the old captions versus thought balloons debate. Personally I feel that there is room for both in the vastness of the comic book realm fanboys. I’ve always felt that thought balloons should be used only to convey a character’s innermost thoughts. This tool is underused by both writers and artists today. If an illustrator is having trouble conveying a character’s emotions through body language only, the thought balloon is a wonderful tool to have. It helps us poor readers first, understand where the character is coming from emotionally, therefore making the story flow smoothly. I feel that there is only one use for captions and that is to define setting. I feel that the use of captions to create drama is a very good tool, but in terms of the narrative, I feel that the silent third-person narration found in most caption boxes make the fourth wall greater, and therefore isolates the reader from the story. I think that all narration would be stronger if done from the protagonist’s or antagonist’s point of view. This could easily be completed through the use of thought. Well anyway, that’s my two cents for this evening. Thanks for listening to the rant. Questions? Comments? You know what to do.
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