Abstract
Information architecture is the structural design of shared information environments, optimizing users' interaction with that content and their context. Comic arts may be considered in light of information architecture in that it uses sequential frames, text, and their “containers,” and design conventions as information architectural “tools” to represent information and engage the user in interacting with it. This chapter explains information architecture, focusing on comic arts' features for representing and structuring knowledge. Then it details information design theory and information behaviors relative to this format, also noting visual literacy. Next, applications of comic arts in education are listed. With this background, several research methods that combine information design and comic arts are explained, followed by a concrete research example. It also recommends strategies for addressing information architecture explicitly for knowledge acquisition and communication.
TopDefinitions And Concepts
Knowledge Representation
While textual information usually comprises a significant aspect of comic arts, in terms of knowledge representation, the main element is visual. Not only are active and inanimate figures represented visually, but their movements over time, and in relationship to each other, are also captured via the series of panels. These additional aspects of concepts enrich understanding.
In examining the symbolism of visual messages, Peirce (1883) categorized them into icons that resemble the actual thing (such as a realitic picture of a cat), indexes that point to another object’s meaning (such as a frown to indicate displeasure), and a conventional symbol that has no visual counterpart, such as the word “cat” to mean that animal. Peirce also differentiated between unsystematic (i.e., novel and unique) and systematic (conventionalized) references; comic arts usually employ systematic references.
A representation can be a “close” representation in terms of verisimilitude or indexicality, or very abstract. For instance, a photo might be considered a relatively “close” representation because of its technical capturing of reflected light bouncing off the surface of the original item, but it might be considered a “poor” or inaccurate presentation because it is just a projection of a three-dimensional item and does not represent internal physical aspects, let alone psychological or cognitive aspects (say, the photo of a person). In contrast, a Dali painting represents a notion of time psychologically, or a Kathe Kollwitz charcoal drawing might be a more “accurate” representation of war-based suffering than a photo. Thus, physicality itself does not equate with the quality of representation; the audience’s participation (McLuhan’s “hot” medium), be it emotional or psychological, constitutes an essential element in determining/deeming the quality of the representation. In that respect, the medium is NOT equal to the message.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Graphic Novel: Book length story in comic strip format.
Young Adult (YA): 12-18 year olds.
Semiotics: The study of study of signs and symbols and their meaning, use or interpretation.
Comic Arts: A subset of “sequential art”, a meaningful series of images. Comic arts include the elements such as images in panels, text in boxes or “bubbles,” and “gutters” between panel.
Content Analysis: Analysis of recorded communication content to determine its meaning, purpose, or effect.
Common Core State Standards: Set of academic expectations in language arts and mathematics that define the knowledge and skills that students should master.
Digital Storytelling: Online narrative in digital format.
Information Behaviors: Ways that humans interact with information, especially in terms of seeking and using it.
Information Design Theory: Studies of the way a content representation should be designed in order to optimize communication.
Information architecture: The structural design of shared information environments, optimizing users’ interaction with that content, and their context.
Visual Literacy: The ability to understand, create, and use visual messages.