warning: graphic discussion

are graphic novels lower on the food chain than verbal prose? than poetry? are pictures, combined with words or standing alone less effective, less valuable than words alone? advertisers would say no. the art world would say no. the american national standards institute (ANSI) would say no. so why do haughty-graphic-novel-bashing-commenters writing for pseudo-affected audiences feel their opinions are fact?

what if we transported ourselves back in time to live amongst the inca? should we wag our fingers at them for not figuring out how to construct a language that was based on binary relationships rather than ternary systems of meaning-making, as is used to construct aymara, one of their chief languages? it seems a embarrassingly post-elitist to denounce the communication system of a society that existed six centuries ago, yet successfully practiced mortarless stone construction, brain surgery, sustainable high altitude agriculture and operated with a government that included separate chains of command, creating checks and balances on authority. in many ways, this society in south america was far more advanced than the majority of the world. yet, they communicated in a very different way than their contemporaries, a way that many believe is better for the obvious purpose: communicating. many critics of prose cannot wrap their brains around the delicate, smashing facets of poetry. many poets cannot see the dynamic living magic in writing for the stage.

the graphic novel is another form of writing, implementing multiple ways of learning and information presentation/uptake that are more complex and require significantly more planning than prose. the process of creating a graphic novel involves ways of thinking and composing that many of us who dwell beneath the surface of the overpopulated algae-choked verbal lagoon cannot even imagine, let alone practice with any level of understanding or success.

but i love words. notice the simplistic symbolic binary construction of that which you've just read. words are great. let's not denounce their brothers and sisters, though.