Understanding Comics

One concept that I found interesting in Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics was that form and idea are the two main factors at the core of art. I think it's something that can easily be forgotten. For instance, I often find myself getting distracted by the surface level. So it was nice to be reminded that the purpose should be to express some thought or idea about life or to explore the form through which the expression takes place. I think comics are a great way to prioritize both form and idea, since its an extremely experimental outlet. Panels allow one to tell their story in so many different ways, simply by messing with the composition and timing of a page. And the sequential quality of comics allows for ideas and stories to be expressed clearly and easily, in a way that cannot be done within a single image.

McCloud dives into more than just idea and form, however. He discusses the whole process of comics and other art forms. Of course it all starts with idea and form, but after that there is idiom, structure, craft, and surface. He uses the metaphor of an apple to demonstrate this, claiming that even if one starts out being drawn in by the surface, they will eventually bite into the core. I found this very interesting. That even if one is seemingly creating surface art, without any concern for idea or form, it's almost impossible to not inject any semblance of a message or purpose into the art. Almost always the artist will follow the six steps, even if they don't realize that they are. But it's beneficial of course to be aware of the steps and focus on idea and form. By doing so one can find the ambition and purpose to spread their beliefs to others, which only inspires even more ideas.