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Post by Dr. Nemmers on Jul 26, 2024 2:10:47 GMT
So this book is obviously very different from others that we've read, in that this one has words and pictures! Just to get discussion kicked off here, I'm wondering if y'all have any experience with graphic works, and if you have any tips for how to read a book like this. We're taught how to read early in life by reading picture books, but almost all of our scholastic careers (K-12, college), we don't read works like this. That also means we're never really taught how to read works like this...
For me, one of the difficulties is that I tend to "speed-read," and don't really look at the pictures as much as just move through the text. Should I slow down and look at each page as a work of art? Should I pause after a period of time as if I were reading chapters?
What do y'all think about how to read a book like this?
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Post by mjunious on Jul 28, 2024 0:16:56 GMT
I face the same dilemma, trying to negotiate the time spent on the text and the images. If I read something that is more comic book style, like The Watchmen (which is a great text for existentialism) I usually read the text then focus on the images. Because of the layout of Citizen 13660, I found myself approaching it as I would viewing images in a coffee table book, where the text served to support the images (as one would experience a gallery). I think because of this however, with the images being so similarly styled, the images lost their impact as I read because of the similarity with them. But, one may be able to argue that this is drawn from the monotony of life in the camps.
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Post by shelbygraham on Jul 29, 2024 14:28:42 GMT
I approached this book as if I was going to an art gallery, similar to what Mitchell is saying. I noticed early on that the text is very straight forward and to the point and recognized that was probably very intentional. I saw it like the art as the main attraction with the text being supportive. Often at galleries the artist(s) intend for their works to be viewed in a certain order/sequence so that the viewers can experience the art as a story. This novel reminded me of that.
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Post by gnicholson3 on Jul 31, 2024 21:02:46 GMT
I also tend to speed read and not take the time when there are pictures within novels, but I found myself taking pause when reading this novel and coming across illustrations. When it comes to literature of this level and illustrations, I feel like you have to take pause to make appropriate analyze the images in reference to the context of the novel.
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Post by Rylee Wenzel on Aug 1, 2024 2:09:28 GMT
I really enjoyed being able to read something that was different like this. I had the same issue. Running through the text quickly since it was easier to go through in this format. I found that by slowing down, and taking in the artwork as if it was words helped me a lot.
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