Almost everything that we learn in life goes through a cycle. Most commonly these cycles will start with the simplest way of doing something and progress to the more mature and complex way. For example, learning to ride a bike, you go from training wheels to an adult bike or learning how to swim, you go from wearing floaties in the shallow end to treading in the deep end. Both of these examples are the standard way that many people learn how to do these things and we don't think twice about it because it's what we're expected to do. Similar to these cycles, reading is the same way. As we read in Scott McCloud's piece, "Show and Tell", the cycle of reading is starting with picture books until we eventually make it to chapter books. Once we make it to the long, imageless books, we stay there and don't think about reading books with pictures because we automatically believe that they are meant for kids. However, I completely disagree with this viewpoint because even when a book has images in it, it doesn't make it a kids book or a comic. As McCloud said, "Words and pictures have great power to tell stories when creators fully exploit them both." (McCloud 152). The two are interchangeable and when put together, can make a book even better. So next time you're looking for a book, don't completely put off the book with pictures because there's a chance that it'll be better than the book without pictures.
While only a few chapters into, "The Great Gatsby", a distinct symbol that has been presented multiple times, is the green light. At the end of chapter 1, we saw the green light as Nick spotted Gatsby, and later on, we see it again. "Involuntarily I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been at the end of a dock" (Fitzgerald 21). This quote signifies how the green light has multiple meanings behind it. The green light represents Gatsby's undying love for daisy, the American dream, and wealth. Since the quote explains that the green light is on a dock, us readers can infer that this dock is daisy's house and with Gatsby staring at it, it shows his strong love for her. The green light also represents the American dream and wealth. This green light is not exactly tangible for Gatsby. Although Gatsby has seemed to achieved the American dream through his wealth, he did not do it the right way....
I love this! I really like how you compared it to swimming and riding a bike, because it really highlights how people think of comics and picture books as a sort of "crutch" for people who struggle with reading. I think you're totally right that we automatically dismiss picture books as childish.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you started broad with experiences that many people share and then narrowed it down to the reading. I agree with your point that books with pictures aren't exclusively for children and can be intellectual.
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