Homework 5 - Eisner and Thompson: Emotions in Ink

Something that could be considered as the most difficult, yet also the most intuitive or instinctual, aspect of creating stories is the emotional truth of the character’s experiences and world. It may be argued as the most challenging part, as audiences are quicker to pick up on fake or unrealistic emotions and the process of creating subtle yet colorful realism falls on a delicate balance of “too much” or “not enough”, especially in the context of visual presentation. However, emotions are perhaps the most plentiful source of inspiration for creators because it’s nearly impossible to create something without implementing some form of feeling, and the most successful pieces are those that can capture the feeling of humanity.

Both Eisner and Thompson seek to convey emotions in their stories through blurring the lines between words and pictures, utilizing the strengths of ink as a medium to show a plethora of feelings from “heaviness” to “ecstasy”.

Even something as simple as the very first page already throws the reader into an intense feeling; “one” for a separated feeling loneliness among those who are physically close, but emotionally distant.

Eisner uses thick, jagged lines to emphasize the physical and emotional toll that the rain and Hersh’s grief have upon him.

By stark comparison with the loneliness of the first few pages, the second to last is full of detail, stories overlapping with the background, to show the coming together of the characters and the blend between their experiences.

Thompson’s “Blankets” also conveys strong emotions through visual presentation, though his focus tends to revolve around feelings of growing adolescence while Eisner tackles gritty adulthood in the city.

Just like the emotions expressed, the drawings are simplistic yet complex with carefully nuanced details that sweep you into each frame, as shown above with how Raina’s words radiate into Craig’s mind.

“A Contract with God” and “Blankets” are two pieces of story that individually have unique focuses, but share a strong, grounding emotional complexity told in expressive and beautiful drawings.