Blood (and other things) in the gutter: deconstructing McCloud's "pleasure in closure" for intersectional exploration
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Issue Date
2018-05
Authors
Allen, Jessica
Advisor
DeFrain, Darren
Citation
Abstract
This research explores gutter theory in comics and graphic novels. While many regard
Scott McCloud's theoretical work as the gold standard, others such as Theirry Groenstein,
Theresa Tensuan, and Hannah Miodrag believe that his "pleasure in closure" is too easy of an
explanation into how we read and analyze these multimodal works.
My research concludes that the gutter is a space where the reader's active imagination
takes form and dismantles the captivation of motion pictures and traditional text novels. Utilizing
the works of George Herriman's Krazy Kat, Lynda Barry's One Hundred Demons, and several
Latinx comics including los bros Hernandez' "Love and Rockets", Jessica Abel's "La Perdida," and
"Virus Tropical" by web comic, Power Paola, we see that the gutter is a place lacking closure;
rather an offering of possibilities.
Table of Content
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-- Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of English