Art Quote by Phoebe Gloeckner
“Comics are a "young" art form, and there is much confusion as to how to treat them. Images have more immediate impact than words, and it is not every reader who can be convinced to relax into experiencing the work for what it is - not words and pictures, but a different form, where the narrative is propelled by the blending of image, word and sequence, and where no element can be extricated and have the same meaning by itself. When this art is shown in a gallery, its "thingness" is called to attention, it is no longer experienced as "story," but rather as an artifact of the artist's process.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Comics as Art, Interview, 2005
Comics blend images and words so tightly that separating them destroys meaning; they are a unique narrative medium.
In simple terms: Comics need both pictures and words together.
Key Takeaway
Respect the inseparability of visual and textual storytelling.
Themes
art
medium
visual narrative
storytelling
interpretation
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
creative
Type
essay
interview
When to use this quote
- gallery exhibitions
- comic workshops
- educational curricula
- creative writing
Key Concepts
intermodal storytelling
media theory
aesthetic experience
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the visual element add that words cannot?
- How can we teach this blended literacy?
A Different Perspective
Readers may struggle to engage without visual literacy.
