Reading Response: "Vocabulary of Comics"

Readings on Writing (p. 2-15)
Reading Response

“Vocabulary of Comics” by Scott McCloud

Summary:

In “Vocabulary of Comics,” Scott McCloud attempts to get readers to consider the thoughts and reasons behind using icons and symbols.  He wants to get the reader to consider why an author uses different types of icons. McCloud presents his whole piece through an actual comic. This is very visually appealing to the reader, and it is also an outlet for McCloud to get his points across more clearly. McCloud creatively describes the specific reasons for using or not using simpler cartoons rather than detailed pictures. He notes that icons and symbols represent ideas and they can be viewed in different ways depending on the reader. McCloud even draws his own character in a specific way to make a statement. The cartoon was entertaining and educational- very creative. 

Homework Question:

McCloud’s text is very different from the other texts we have read in this class, but is similar to them in some ways. It is like the others in the sense that a construct is being explained to the readers. McCloud explains the comic writing construct of icon and symbol specifics just as Greene explained the construct of arguments, Kleine explained the construct of research methodology, Kantz described the construct of using existing texts to make an original one, and Berger described the cultural construct of objectifying women through art. All of these articles are also personal to the author. Greene, Kleine, and Kantz all used personal experiences and thoughts in their work; McCloud even used himself as a character. All of the articles bring new light to the world of young readers and writers.

McCloud’s article is different in a lot of ways. Most obvious is the fact that this article is actually a comic! I wasn’t really expecting that. As I was reading, I realized that rather than describing a writing construct, McCloud was more like Berger and described a “drawing” construct of sorts (or maybe even a reading construct since the way a reader views an icon was a main point). Berger and McCloud’s articles were alike just because they were not about constructs that pertained to rhetoric in particular. I would also have to say that McCloud stands out in creativity. He really reached out to the readers.