I believe we use the mental images of words as exigency when we read novels because we interpret the story and imagine the world view of the book with our unconscious intention. Although we can easily interpret the world view of comics because of the imagery and background scenes, novels represent reality differently from the way of comics. In reading novels, we assume and imagine the world view in our mind unconsciously because novels are composed by the enumeration of letters. In other words, we have to use the mental images as exigency to interpret and imagine the development of the story. However, why can we imagine the story in our mind in spite of the fact that novels are composed by only the enumeration of letters?
In the article Understanding Comics, McCloud explains that "Now, the word Icon means many things. . . . The sorts of images we usually call symbols are one category of icon, however. These are images we use to represent concepts, ideas and philosophies. Then there are the icons of Language Science and Communication icons of the practical realm" (p. 27). That is, according to McCloud, the letters which we usually see in our daily life and in any literature works is merely an icon because the word itself is not the meaning itself. For instance, although the word of "novel" provides us the impression of any literature works and any stories into our mind, the word "novel" itself is not a novel. That is, even the word which provides us the meaning, the word cannot be an object itself. Because we understand the meaning of the word in advance, the image and meaning of the word is floated through our mind. Because of this process, we can read novels in spite of the fact that novels are lacking of image such as comics.
However, we do not use the process as the conscious method. When we encounter the letters and the sentences, these icons of word are transformed into the meaning of the word in our mind unconsciously. That is, our consciousness understands to transform automatically because the instant transformation from icons to mental images is required for interpretation as exigency. Therefore, we can read novels with imagination of the world view of the story.
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I completely agree with Ryosuke, that a mental image of text is exigency of understanding. Being able to see what we read is important when reading text because then we’re able to understand the text better. When we read text and do not visualize what we are reading, sometimes our interpretation of the text is blurred and inaccurate. Since this action is innate, I have never thought about how important visualizing the text is. By understanding text, we are able to expand our minds and our thinking about the text. By expanding our thoughts about the text, this allows us, as readers, to take the reading to a new dimension of understanding.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we can take reading further by connecting emotion with the images we see. When we relate to something we read, we typically see ourselves in it. McCloud says we put on a mask as the audience. By putting on the mask we can get the author's message.
ReplyDeleteSeeing what we read and then seeing ourselves is only the first step. The next step is connecting emotionally. These images we see when we read are not concrete. Like you said they are unconscience. Because of this we have to have a reason to make these images significant. That reason is emotion. When we tie emotions to the images, we become more invested in the story. Many examples of this can be seen in Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Most of what happens in the book is the everyday life of a teenage boy. If we simply see what goes on we wouldn't really care. But by putting a mask on and understand the character we become emotionally invested. In doing so we begin to care about the story.
Images are worthless without meaning. Emotion can bring the images we see unconsciencely when we read meaning.