Graphic Narrative Gutters

A visual or implied boundary and the contents within it that tell a piece of the story.

Graphic narrative gutters.

A distinctively long gutter implies a long span of time or major change of scene. To be considered a graphic novel rather than a picture book or illustrated novel the story is told using a combination of words and pictures in a sequence across the page. This basic way of storytelling has been used in various forms for centuries early cave drawings. The gutter sometimes occupies more space than the panels and actively contributes to the narrative in various ways.

In some cases it is used to express the duration of time and or changes of location by its length. Although others agree with chute s use of the term graphic narrative and include comic books and manga as well in their definition gardner herman 2011 labio 2011 states that the term. The format is what makes the story a graphic novel and usually includes text images word balloons sound effects and panels. As the reader moves from one panel to the next they predict and conclude what is happening.

A tier is a singular row of panels. Reader moves from one panel to the next and comes to a conclusion about whats happening. Graphic novels can be any genre and tell any kind of story just like their prose counterparts. This thesis is about the significance of the gutter in graphic narrative.

The space between the panels. I will look at this empty space between the panels and how it works and relates to the narrative. Monnin s 2010 graphic novel vocabulary the basics. A splash or splash page is a large often full page illustration which opens and introduces a story.

Graphic novels can be any genre and tell any kind of story just like their prose counterparts. Gutter the space between the panels. Visual or implied boundary and the contents within it that tells a piece of the story. The gutter is the space between panels.