Naming Convention: 01_Narrative_Image_2024FA_Your_First_and_Last_Name
Due: January 21st
Make sure you email me an example of a narrative image (not from a google search for “narrative image”) and a proposal for your narrative image before next class!
Today in class we went over the basic building blocks of time. Change: is the way we measure time, this could be the change from day to night, the melting of an ice cube or the change in daily temperature of the seasons.
We also studied the idea of how that change is measured and structured, does it have a relatable linear structure with a character (narrative) or, is it a more abstract (non- narrative)structure? In this assignment, I want to challenge you to create a single image which portrays the idea of a story with a beginning, middle, and end. It can be made in any medium but, can only be a single image.
Let’s take another look at the image of the child dressed as Spiderman by Nate Frizzell.
Notice the use of various props or clues to help hint at the beginning of this sequence (the make-up, the costume, his location) and other hints to help show the possible future (the rope around his body, the look in his face of expectation). You can get a good idea of what he did before this image and you have an idea of possible futures after this image because of these things. To give a sense of a before and a possible after you need to have some clues and hints for the viewer to latch on to.
Also, when you are thinking about the particular slice of time you will be representing make sure it is at the most conducive moment in time to tell the whole story. Often this could be right before a decisive moment; here if the painter had chosen to rewind too far to the boy eating breakfast in his Spiderman outfit or putting on the makeup it wouldn’t have the same emotional impact or tension that it has with him on the edge of the building. If we skip forward to him jumping, being rescued etc. the sense of tension – of what’s going to happen would be ruined, it would be the end.
The sequence or story you choose to portray can be real or imaginary; from a familiar fairytail or an experience in your own life, make sure that itʼs main character is relatable and that the arch of the story is told or hinted at in the picture. Please remember the sense of time should be the most dominant element in the piece no matter who or what you choose to be your subject. Also, make a choice between which aspect of time is more important to your image – What happens next or what happened before the time your image occurs.
Once again, do not use more than one image that is “Sequential Art” otherwise known as comics and will be covered later in the term. Also, you are focusing on creating an image that incorporates what is talked about above, do not try to double up with an assignment for another class or use an old picture as you won’t be creating the image to fulfill the requirements of this assignment.
Final piece description: A piece made in an art-form of your choice which has time as one of its main elements.
Remember: While all pieces of narrative art can have a little of each your piece should make the audience question how the focus of the work got to this point or what will happen next.
I want you to create an original piece for this assignment. Do not try to repurpose an old piece you’ve already done or combine this project with another one for a different class.
Do not use any leading text in the piece and you can not use word balloons for character dialogue.
If you have questions please ask me.
By next class: Please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Due date: A piece made in an art-form of your choice which displays the idea of a beginning middle and end of a story without time.
You will be graded on the following items please make sure you pay attention to them.
- Readability or the sense of beginning, middle and end
- Craftsmanship
- Sense of story
- How effective you choice of what part of the narrative to illustrate is.
- Use of narrative clues
- Presentation