Jimmy Corrigan is a uniquely-shaped book- where many traditional books are tall and narrow, Chris Ware's comic is short and wide.
What is the significance of the shape of Jimmy Corrigan?
When lined up next to other books, Jimmy Corrigan sticks out like a sore thumb because of its shape. Its short and wide shape makes it fit awkwardly next to its neighbors. Moreso, when I actually pull it off the shelf for examination, I'm not sure how to hold it. Some of the cover text has me holding it spine-up, the image has me holding it spine-down, and other text supports the traditional spine-to-the-left position. I find myself grappling with it awkwardly. And I think that's the intention; for the book, from its very first impression, to exemplify and illustrate feelings of uncertainty and awkwardness.
In what other ways does Ware try to emphasize the readers' feelings of awkwardness?
Bredehoft explains that Ware (and other comics authors) have the unique ability to present their readers with more than one path through the panels on a page. "More importantly," he says, "neither dimension (vertical or horizontal) has clear precedence over the other." While this allows for multiple interpretations of a set of panels, it also serves a function in making the readers of Jimmy Corrigan feel awkward. When presented with a page, we aren't always sure which way to take- we feel uncertain of ourselves. I think it's also interesting to note that there are no page numbers, maybe signifying a feeling of disconnection, of being lost. I definitely feel that the linearity of page numbers would contradict the non-linear story, which flips from past to present, from real to imaginary.
I think the confusing, uncertain, and awkward feelings Ware creates through form definitely help the reader identify with (the younger) Jimmy Corrigan. Rather than observing his feelings of inadequacy, we find ourselves sharing the same feelings, relating to Jimmy Corrigan. It's definitely a piece which shows rather than tells.
I found the shape of Corrigan to be very intriguing. I didn't feel much awkwardness until reading it and finding the panels to be flipped here and there.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your initial point on the shape of "Jimmy Corrigan." I remember having exactly the same problem you mention when I first picked up the book. In addition, could the short and wide (as opposed to tall and narrow) orientation be a reference to the shape of the character Jimmy Corrigan? Especially Jimmy the first, who (if I'm remembering correctly) is shorter than his classmates and certainly round, or "wide-set."
ReplyDeletei definitely saw the awkwardness you found in jimmy corrigan. i actually felt myself almost blushing sometimes because everybody in the novel (and so me also) felt so uncomfortable. i didn't think about how awkward it is from before you ever start to read it though. that's a really smart observation.
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