McCloud

Before You Read (McCloud)

I feel that some children use stick figures when drawing mainly because it is one of the easiest forms in which to draw a "person". I don't believe it is because children haven't developed a self-awareness of what they look like, rather it's because they don't have the proper skills/art technique to draw a complex figure of a person. Personally, I still draw stick figures when I have to draw people, not because I don't know what I look like, but because it's the easiest and quickest way to draw that subject.

Summary

Absolutely my favorite read so far. McCloud demonstrates how cartoons help our brains relate images to real-life objects. For example, McCloud uses a smiley face to show that our brain recognizes that icon as a face. McCloud uses the comics to keep the reader entertained, while at the same time teaching the reader how to look at things around us from a different perspective. McCloud also demonstrates how self-centered humans really are, which is quite amusing.

Synthesis

Compared to Berger, McCloud is very much the same. Berger tries to convince the reader to view women from a different stand point, just like McCloud suggests that we view objects and icons from a different view. The two authors explain how a person's thoughts can change about themselves and their surroundings if they just try to view them from perspectives. They both emphasize how keeping an open mind can help you grow.

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

2.) McCloud uses the comic book format to convey his ideas because it is probably one of the easiest ways to describe how symbols and icons have such a strong influence on the human mind. One example that I personally liked was how McCloud demonstrates to the reader, (using drawings), the way the human mind is capable of taking a circle, two dots and a line and turning them into a face. He also shows this by using a picture of an electrical outlet. This would obviously be much more difficult to describe using just writing. The reader would not have been able to think exactly what McCloud was thinking if he were to write it. McCloud literally paints a picture for the reader. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Applying and Exploring Ideas

1.) I do feel that teaching should convey more visual imagery. Not all students are verbal or auditory learners. Some people are visual learners, and can digest information better by viewing pictures and/or videos. I believe if teachers included all types of learning techniques (i.e. auditory, visual, oral, kinesthetic) into their lessons, test scores would improve, along with class moral.

4.) McCloud's concept of the mask shows how easy it is to hide your emotions from someone or vice-versa. Someone on the street that you pass could be upset, but you would never know that. Without the mask, people would be much more aware of your emotions and thoughts about things. People would be able to tell if you're upset, lying, angry, etc.