The Significance of the Gutter in Graphic Narrative

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"

The"Significance"of"the"Gutter"in"Graphic"

Narrative"""

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By"Stig"Tornes"

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A"Thesis"Presented"to"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

The"Department"of"Literature,"Area"Studies"and"European"Languages"""""""""

In"partial"Fulfillment"of"the"Requirements"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

For"the"Master"of"Arts"Degree""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

University"of"Oslo"

Thesis"supervisor:"Rebecca"Scherr"

Spring"Term"2013"

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The"Significance"of"the"Gutter"in"Graphic"

Narrative"""

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Stig"Tornes" "

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The Significance of the Gutter in Graphic Narrative Stig Tornes

http://www.duo.uio.no

Trykk: Reprosentralen, Universitetet i Oslo

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Abstract

This"thesis"is"about"the"significance"of"the"gutter"in"graphic"narrative."I"will"look"at"this"

empty"space"between"the"panels"and"how"it"works,"and"relates"to"the"narrative."First"I"

will"delve"into"the"surface"of"the"physical"appearance"of"the"gutter,"its"function"as"a"

frame"and"a"passeQpartout,"and"inevitably"how"this"affects"the"way"we"look"at"the"gutter"

through"the"image"and"sequential"art."Further"I"will"see"the"gutter"in"a"more"traditional"

way"–"exploring"and"discussing"the"missing"panels"and"how"the"gutter"influences"the"

different"styles"of"storytelling."This"will"be"from"a"more"virtual"perspective"looking"at"

that"which"apparently"is"not"there,"but"recreated"by"the"reader"through"a"model"of"

interpretation."As"a"concluding"part"of"the"thesis,"these"two"aspects"of"the"

surface/depth,"or"real/virtual,"will"be"combined"to"see"how"it"affects"the"narratives,"and"

how"this"might"fit"into"an"extended"argument"of"the"gutter"and"its"role"in"graphic"

narrative.""""

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my supervisor, Associate Professor Rebecca Scherr, for her helpful advice, and for her seminar “The Auto-Graphic Novel”.

I wish to thank my wife, Ellen Marie, for her support through this process, my children Iben and Helle, and extended family.

Thanks to everyone who housed me for my trips to Oslo, and to those who helped at home when I was away.

Thanks also to those who have discussed topics of graphic narrative, and particularly the gutter, with me. Not always in agreement, but always appreciated.

Stavanger, May 2013.

Stig Tornes

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The Significance of the Gutter in Graphic Narrative

The"Significance"of"the"Gutter"in"Graphic"

Narrative"""

By"Stig"Tornes"

The"Significance"of"the"Gutter"in"Graphic"

Narrative"""

"

Stig"Tornes" "

Abstract

Acknowledgements

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