Saturday, September 15, 2007

Graphically Enhanced Novels

Being a graphic novel, V for Vendetta is able to transcend the boundaries created in traditional literature. Instead of concentrating on creating images in the mind of the reader, the author can take more time to develop the structure and dialogue of the story. The reader sees exactly what the author intends, no more, no less. This aspect of a graphic novel can be seen both as a positive and a negative. This type of configuration leads to less ambiguity as well as less room for personal interpretation.

As a graphic novel, it is also able to reach a wider audience. Even an illiterate person would be able to, generally, grasp the plot of the graphic novel through the pictures alone. This being said, it would be fair to assume that most of the communication is being done through the images rather than the text. The role of the illustrator becomes more important, more like an author, because he or she must choose what to include in the cells to indicate the emotions, and feelings usually conveyed in writing.

Another aspect of graphic novels that I find personally pleasing is that the reader does not have to decipher the esoteric writings often included in more traditional, often Russian, writings. The novel takes a route that makes it more understandable to the proletariat. I believe that this makes the plot more enjoyable, mainly because you do not have to focus on the author’s presentation, but rather just enjoy what is there.

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