McCloud's reading this week had me like... YAS! The discussion of color is a fascinating one but what I hadn't considered was how much color is ingrained in our cultural awareness. Symbols are everywhere and that's largely in part to color. This makes sense after saying it - there are flags that represent nations, colors that hold significance in describing gender identity, and colors that symbolize a fast food joint, or your favorite superhero. Color is absolutely everywhere, McCloud though was able to step back and acknowledge the significance and meaning of color in one specific medium that's not discussed often. After reading McCloud in its entirety, I really enjoyed it. Did it make me want to start reading comics on my own for fun... no. However, I am stoked to have SOMETHING to offer in this context when I utilize it in my own classroom. McCloud described another mode of art and communication that deserves our consideration and respect - I will start doing that.
In the discussion of color, it doesn't matter whether or not you stand under a spectrum of red, white, and blue or rainbow - it's safe to say there's a lot more to color then what meets the eye (see what I did there). Alright, I'm done.
"The wall of ignorance that prevents so many human beings from seeing each other clearly can only be breached by communication. And communication is only effective when we understand the forms that communication can take" (198).
For example, the six-color rainbow pride flag we know well has served as a symbol to the queer community since its emergence in 1971 (w.p.), but the queer community has evolved over the past decades, leading many to question whether the pride flag still caters to those most marginalized in the community, including queer people of color and trans people.
In an effort to accurately support all queer bodies of difference, the pride flag recently received a makeover. This is my opinion, is a pretty amazing design, thinking ahead and taking critiques of the idea into account. (The first draft added the new colors on top of the rainbow spectrum) Majority of people didn't like this because it acted as if it were replacing the significance of the gay body with people of color and tras people. This though couldn't be further from the truth - however the first draft of the new flag did prove that color, and its symbols mean a lot to people. Taking all this into account designer, Daniel Quaser, came up with the design on the left, signifying the new area of queer bodies 'added' to the spectrum.
Moving on to film:
I recently learned about the film Roma from a friend - she said it was one of the best films she's seen in years. I was curious to look it up and notice quickly that it was filmed in black-and-white. This shouldn't bother me, and it doesn't, but I still noticed it and took a mental note that this was somehow odd. McCloud even notes, "The differences between black-and-white and color comics are vast and profound, affecting every level of reading experience" (192). I thought this was interesting to think about in terms of contemporary art and film. We're lucky to have the technology that allows us to make these rhetorical choices - black-and-white is symbolized in film as old. To some, that means quality, because only great films were shot during this era. To others it's thought of as dull and boring -we have color now for a reason, so use it. We've seen random films make this choice for a number of different reasons. A modern film to pull off the 'symbolicness' of what black-and-white offers must be pretty good and trying to make a larger point. I just think there's something really interesting about a medium reinventing itself in a time where it's no longer necessary to exist. Films like Roma though, prove why "black and white will never be erased entirely" (192).
One of the advantages to a black and white film is that you have a lot more control over shadows and that gives a good cinematographer the chance to play around a lot more. In the olden day color was considered kiddy stuff or for less serious films despite the fact that it was more expensive than black and white for the most part. Film Noir is a great example of this. We see modern examples of color films of film noir but compared to the classics they're a little bit lacking. In a color film its hard to make the shadows black, they're usually some sort of dark blue. sometimes while trying to compensate the editor will darken the film in post leaving the colors washed out and the characters difficult to see (The first time I saw Rogue One I walked out of the theater and complained that I couldn't see jack shit).
ReplyDeleteAs for the new pride flag, I'm not to sure about the new one. It kind of looks like two perfectly good flags made into one. Especially since you have the primary colors of the rainbow clashing with the neon colors. It's good that they are separated out by the black and brown. I have to say it really hasn't grown on me.
Signed Cory
Great post expanding on McCloud's thoughts on the use of color and how it can expand to other symbols. Very interesting example with the pride flag and it's changes throughout time. I think the adaptions to the pride flag caused controversy because the rainbow flag was a symbol to be all encompassing, with each color not representing skin color and identity, but a mesh of it all together. The new design has colors that represent skin color and a certain type of person's identity in the LGBTQ+ community, creating a sense of preference of one aspect of identity over the other. However, what I do think is unique about the makeover of the pride flag is not just the use of color and shape, as to me the arrow on the left symbolizes yearning for progress on a direction for equality in the community. Much like the acronym LGBT has expanded to LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIA+, etc. maybe when people with disadvantages in the LGBT+ community get equal treatment, the flag will change again to represent that change. Thats just my interpretation.
ReplyDeleteIn my post, I also had a segment where I discussed the use of color in films, but that was more focused on the variety of colors, prominently the color red with sunsets. I do admire modern films that are shot in black and white for symbolic reasons. I have been meaning to see Roma and from what I understand it is in black and white to have the audience focus on the subject matter and not be distracted by different uses color. For example, I am a devout fan of the White Stripes and they shot a movie called 'Under Great White Northern Lights' that was shot almost entirely in black and white. For me, I almost prefer the use of black and white when I watch the film because it helps me focus on the general scope of the film and not get distracted by other aspects.