Describe the Language used in graphic novels????

[UUilliam]

okay here is what brings me to this question.

In college (and the tutro doesn't know what the hell it means)
They ask us to Describe the language used in Graphic Novels and Comics

So how can you desribe the language used in a comic E.g.
http://www.milehighcomics.com/firstlook/marvel/xmenend1/11.jpg

other than, Americanism (Cop, nightstick sidewalk) Formal and street sland etc.. or is that what it means?

Hopefully we have some Comic geeks on the forum

(not geeks asin the bad way, Geeks are good ima geek with computurz kinda)

 

[Corry]

The only graphic novel I've read was Persepolis, and I'd think you could describe it much the same way you'd describe any book.

Amazon.com: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (9780375422300): Marjane Satrapi: Books

The book, btw, is amazing. Not what I expected from a graphic novel.

 

[UUilliam]

I dont think thats what they mean tho...
It is too simple and common knowledge...
It is a bit like asking what language do english people speak

 

[Corry]

What I'm trying to say is, a graphic novel isn't always just a comic book in the traditional sense, like Spiderman or something.

Edit: nevermind, I didn't see you'd edited your OP after I posted earlier.

 

[Hertz van Rental]

As the title suggests, the 'language' of the graphic novel is partly graphic.
Being a mix of illustration and text - working on visual codes and conventions, many created 'in house' - it has, in effect, developed into it's own language.
Broadly speaking, the illustrations are used to set scenes, mood and show action.
Text is used to explain plot and to enhance mood and action.
Neither dominates overall but sometimes one works better than the other depending upon what is going on.
Try reading a graphic novel you are unfamiliar with without the words and you can get some idea of what is happening but not an understanding of why. Similarly, just reading the words makes equally little sense. They have to be read in conjunction.
The graphic novel developed from strip cartoons and the comic book.
Waypoints:
Batman - Art Kane
Plastic Man - Jack Cole
The Spirit - Will Eisner
The Watchmen - Moore & Gibbons
The Dark Knight - Frank Miller (bringing us full circle)

Japan has, of course, taken the graphic novel to another level.

 

[skieur]

Simple: SLANG or COLLOQUIAL!

skieur