Dr Ġorġ Mallia

Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences, University of Malta

 

DGA2007 - Illustration and Visual Narrative 

 

Time
TBA

Venue
TBA.

 

Type
Taught unit with hands-on application.

 

ECTS credits
4
 

Assessment method
Assignment (20%); final practical project (60%); mid-unit practical project (20%) (*).

 

Description
A unit that continues to deliver content from "Introduction to Visual Narrative" at a more advanced level, elaborating on the elements that form Illustration. The unit delves deeply into different style formats of traditional, hand-drawn illustration, as well as found-image, text-as-image, and collage productions; along with materials. It also goes into detail about digital and digitally enhanced illustration, exploring the role played by Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator in this.

The first part of the unit is dedicated to book, poster, cover, information and advertising illustration, exploring the different thrusts of the genre in these areas and their sub-sections (children’s books, persuasive communication, data presentation, etc. Illustration styles will also be examined by era and influence, following Heller and Chwast’s (2008) classification.

The second part of the unit is dedicated to the use of illustration in cartoons (both printed and animated), comic strips, comic books and graphic novels, through an exposition of a wide variety of texts, investigating some of the multiple styles possible in these genres. The mechanics of visual narrative and graphic storytelling will be examined and, in certain instances, replicated by the students. The unit also looks at comics as communicators through exploring the language of the medium and the possible permutations of messages afforded by the various styles, schools, techniques and intentions. The basic elements to be studied are the comic strip, the comic book and the graphic novel.

A practical component in the form of ongoing workshops is linked to the taught component of each session. This translates into supervised practical work the lessons taught.

 

Study-unit Aims

– To be more cognizant of the importance and use of illustration in different contexts;
– To be aware of illustrative styles based on period, form and thematic content;
– To understand better the use of image generation and manipulation programs in the enhancing and/or creation of illustration;
– To be aware of the variety of styles of illustration used in different sub-genres of visual narrative.
– To become familiar with the techniques of visual narrative, particularly in comics and graphic novels;
– To have a hands-on experience in using illustration as a means of visual narrative and storytelling.

 

 

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
– Have an advanced understanding of hand-drawn and/or crafted and digitally generated illustration;
– Gain an understanding of comics narrative construction and storytelling;
– Have a solid grounding in visual narrative stylistic diversification.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
– Have a clear knowledge of how to fit an illustrative style to a context;
– Practically generate a graphic narrative;
– Effectively apply traditional and digital illustration techniques to textual and visual narrative productions.

 

Preliminary reading list


Caputo, T. C. (2003). Visual Storytelling: The Art and Technique. New York, NY: Watson-Guptill Publications.

Duncan, R., and Smith, M. J. (2009). The Power of Comics: History, Form and Culture. New York, NY: Continuum.

Eisner, W. (1990). Comics and Sequential Art (expanded edition). Florida: Poorhouse Press.

Harvey, R. C. (1996). The Art of the Comic Book: An Aesthetic History. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.

Heller, S., and Chwast, S. (2008). Illustration: A Visual History. New York, NY: Abrams.

Male, Alan (2007). Illustration: A Theoretical and Contextual Perspective. New York, NY: Watson-Guptill Publications.

McCloud, S. (1994). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: Harper.

Slade, C.(2003). The Manual of Illustration Techniques. London, UK: A & C Black.

Zeegan, L. (2012). The Fundamentals of Illustration (2nd ed.). Lausanne, SW: AVA.

Other books and journal articles related to the topic will be suggested throughout the duration of the unit.
 

(*) Students will be continuously assessed on the creative use of illustration and visual narrative techniques, interactively within the class itself (continuous peer evaluation of work produced). A number of assignments and the final project will contribute to the final mark. Other practice work is given throughout the study-unit which may be commented on and peer analysed but not marked, so proficiency in the different areas pertaining to the unit may be gained before the actual marking of assignments related to particular programs takes place.

Unit Lecturer: Dr Ġorġ Mallia (Tel. 2340 2427)

Last updated 11-03-2014 - 11.30

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