In chapter 7, McCloud defines art as “any human activity which doesn’t grow out of either of our species’ two basic instincts: survival and reproduction” (164). By this reasoning, comics (and many other things that may not usually be considered art) are undoubtedly considered art. Our desire to express individuality is not only a useful byproduct of evolution; it is also one of the causes. Art as function, self-expression, and discovery are all motifs that have existed for as long as humanity has been around. I appreciate that McCloud has broken down the practice of art making into six tangible steps. However, in order to be great, the artist cannot limit themselves to just these steps alone. The artist must realize his/her own purpose for making art and be able to innovatively convey that purpose.
In chapter 8, color in comics is discussed in terms of commerce and technology. Bold, bright colors are cheaper to use in mass production, and such colors also happen to grab peoples’ attention. Win-win. As consumers, we can also subconsciously identify comic book super heroes by merely recognizing the color palette used in the comic. Color is not only a powerful marketing and recognition tool, but an entire dimension of art making. Color makes the whole viewing experience drastically different than if viewed in black and white.
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