So I suppose it is no secret I like activism, standing up for a cause and giving it your all no matter what. From my comics to my actual life I have been doing so.
But what about the imagery that gets such a thing across to an audience in comics or movies?
The question came to mind when I saw this intro to the new lawyer/courtroom drama series “The Good Fight”
which reminded me a lot of this scene:
The Zabriskie Point Blow Up
This image of staples of western consumerism and/or status symbols (among other things such as the symbol for the Rule of Law and the State of Justice among other things in the series incarnation) blowing up in innumerable smithereens can be anything from anarchic to revolutionary.
The image of the underdog going up against a far stronger foe, the odds stacked against him/her is also such a thing- such images can be seen in real life and art alike.
It doesn’t even have to be dramatic or in high contrast- for what could make a stronger statement than just doing nothing at all, at the moment when everyone is?
Personally I find that panels like these, images such as these captured in the frames of a comic, whether it be during a very personal conflict taking place in someone’s private life or a full blown resistance to a dictatorship, breathe a force and power and life in the comic that will underline all the more the action and the dialogue.
What do you think? Have you ever used such imagery in your comic and if so in what way? If not, how would you employ such images to enhance your story?
Buck the System Imagery
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, March 4, 2017
2 likes!
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Banes at 2:11PM, March 4, 2017
Fascinating and original insight, Tantz! Cool stuff. @Kimluster - I clicked on your link, wondering if it was the Poopington moment I was thinking of xD
KimLuster at 7:48AM, March 4, 2017
Yes, great stuff! I did exactly such a scene at bottom left of page 267 of the Godstrain: http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/The_Godstrain/5493165/
bravo1102 at 6:54AM, March 4, 2017
Great post. I just posted a scene a little like that, though I didn't make it so obvious how badly they were outmatched. And almost every battle in Interstellar Blood Beasts was like that. Or the two grey guys against a platoon of Russians in Attack of the Robofemoids. Come to think of it, I've used it a lot.
Tantz_Aerine at 5:44AM, March 4, 2017
THanks Oz! I don't know, I think such nuances can be in any story that has conflict and power struggle- which I think exists in pretty much every facet of life, not the grand scope of things only. Teacher vs Principal. Teacher vs Pupil (on occasion). Spouse vs In-laws/parents vs Spouse. So on and so forth. Hell, even Me vs Self.
Ozoneocean at 5:37AM, March 4, 2017
Awesome idea and imagery Tantz! To have that in a comic you have to be telling a very particular kind of story I think. Love it!
usedbooks at 5:24AM, March 4, 2017
I do love the imagery, so maybe someday I'll be bold enough to attempt something on that scale.
usedbooks at 5:22AM, March 4, 2017
I love seeing powerful images and statements like that! Several Discworld novels have those climactic battles with tiny group of protagonists facing down armies (Interesting Times is most memorable to me atm). I'm not sure I have/could or would even try to pull it off in my own work. My story isn't really about a corrupt system/government in the big scheme, but it is about organized crime. So I suppose there could be similar themes from those within the criminal organization trying to get out or bring it down. -- I don't know if it counts as an act of defiance, but Seiko has a tendency to run unarmed into dangerous situations in order to help the wounded (often antagonists). It's not defiant but it has a certain unexpected boldness imo.
PaulEberhardt at 3:12AM, March 4, 2017
Oh right, I remember now. Quite at the beginning of the comic I had an episode of Tiger silencing a supremely arrogant civil servant with a well-aimed hair ball (along with some parts of his breakfast), the whole thing being a visual pun on several expressions in various languages for "to have it up to here"; an institution intended to guarantee your freedom clogging itself up with bureaucracy, thwarting its very purpose, cannot but make us free wild animals want to puke - also in a way symbolised by the potted plant destroyed in the preliminaries.
PaulEberhardt at 2:56AM, March 4, 2017
I'm sure I must have, even if I can't remember where at the time. It often happens kind of automatically, sometimes with you realising it only after you did it.