Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics

In Understanding Comics Scott McCloud discussed an interesting idea of simplification and use of icons in comics. He started the discussion by asking why people respond to cartoons as much or more than a realistic image. He suggested that there is amplification through simplification. By abstracting an image, you aren't necessarily eliminating details as much as you are focusing on specific ones. By stripping down something like a face to its basic qualities or meaning, the meaning is amplified. McCloud adds that some live action films are also described as "cartoons" because they also strip down the intensity of a simple story or visual style. Simplifying images like the faces of characters can be done with a purpose as a storytelling tool. Cartoon faces focus our attention on an idea. This is why McCloud chose to draw himself so simply in his book that's purpose is to be informative. By simplifying his face, the reader isn's distracted by the messenger and pays attention to the message. He says, "If who I am matters less, maybe what I say will matter more." Additionally, the more cartoony or simple a face is, the more relatable it is. A lack of specificity allows for universality. It is in human nature to find images of faces even where there aren't any like on the fronts of cars or electrical outlets. So, we are always looking for faces, but why are simple faces so relatable? McCloud suggests that the reason might be that we never really see our own faces in vivd detail like we see the faces of others. Our own face is just a general placement of feature in our mind, much like a cartoon face. That's why when you look at a realistic face in a photo or drawing you see someone else's face but when you see a simple cartoon face, you see yourself. Simplicity allows space for relation. Simplicity is often used strategically in comics to help direct the reader. Backgrounds are often drawn more realistically then the characters (e.g. Tintin) because no one needs to relate to the background. By having a simplistically designed character in a descriptive environment, the reader can be submerged in the character while the environment is still sensually stimulating. Also, particularly in manga, characters like protagonists that you are supposed to identify with will be drawn simply while other characters are drawn more realistically to objectify them and emphasize their "otherness."