The Secret Language of Comics: Visual Thinking and Writing

Tag: sk6

Heavy For A Reason

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  • Dark Blue Backpack: I bought this backpack immediately when I saw it in the store. It’s very practical with A LOT OF zipper pockets which I can put all my stuff in without having them tangled together. I just discovered that it’s Emory blue, which makes me like it more.
  • An Emory Hat: I wouldn’t have survived the summer without this hat. The sun was burning and I would definitely faint from the heat without it protecting my skin. It is surprisingly useful even in the fall because it just saved me from the rain today.
  • MacBook Pro: I got it over the summer for college and I decorated it with Emory stickers because I think they are cute. It sometimes makes my bag extremely heavy and gets incredibly hot and noisy whenever I open the Steam app. It just wants to see me studying.
  • Beats Headphones: it didn’t come with the computer because of some weird policies of the Apple store in my country. It is supposed to be wireless but my computer just can’t pair with it through Bluetooth and I forget to bring the wire all the time, so it just lies in my bag, adding meaningless weight.
  • Water Bottle: I wanted to get an Emory water bottle in the bookstore but they were not good-looking so I kept this old one. It got this metallic exterior which is so cool. It can be super heavy when filled with water.
  • My Philosophy and Art History pouch folder: I have Art History class right after Philosophy so I just put their hand-outs together in one folder.
  • Pencil Case: I’ve used it for three years and I can’t love it more. It houses all my pens, markers, and color pencils since I need multiple colors when drawing (sometimes on my notebooks during class:)
  • My Emory card and room key: One of the most important things in my bag. Without it I would be locked out in the wind and loosing probably a hundred bucks. I always think that it might not be a good idea to tie them together because if I lose I lose both, but I’m too lazy to make a change.
  • A Twizzler: How could it still be in my bag??! My friend gave it to me during the summer and I literally forgot to eat it until now.
  • My Wallet: carrying it with me makes me feel safe even though I don’t really need it on campus.
  • A Lipstick: It’s a very bad idea to carry a lipstick in bag under the Atlanta sun – it melted once and I put it in the refrigerator for a night to get it back in shape.
  • Some tissue: I developed this habit of carrying some tissue around in my bag when I was in China since we don’t usually have free tissue in the restaurants. It brings me the reputation of always being well-prepared  whenever my friends spill their drinks on themselves. 
  • A watch: I don’t really wear it because I can always check the time on my phone and somehow I don’t think it is comfortable to type wearing a watch.

I never figured out why my bag was so heavy until I emptied all the stuff out. There are about half of these things that I don’t need to carry with me everyday but I just do. I surprisingly found that I have a personal story with every object in my bag even though I just consider them as my daily necessities that I never really pay attention to. Therefore, to a certain extent, they do tell a lot about me as a person. Looking at the picture, I realize most of my belongings are blue because it’s such a chill color that makes me feel cozy, which also speaks of me as an easy-going and low-key person. I also find that I like being well-equipped even though that means more weight on me. And that is exactly me in terms of always being ready and prepared. Besides, it shows the caring side of me because even if I don’t need tissue that often, I will always carry some with me since people around might need it. I’m always willing to help!

I don’t think this is a hard assignment and the image-creating process was very simple as well. I just needed to empty out all the contents, and words just naturally flowed out when describing them, and of course myself. I definitely think this is a type of writing since I’m conveying information through my words with a careful thinking process. Not only do we need to explain the items but we should also present them as representatives of ourselves, which needs a thoughtful and logical construction of language. Drawing connections between two originally unrelated concepts (in this case items in my bag and my personality) and generating a new idea from that can also be an essential feature of writing. 

Bag Book

Student Posts
  • Laptop – pretty much take this everywhere.
  • Textbooks/Notebooks – I carry these because I have to.
  • Eraser – this stays at the bottom of my bag permanently.
  • Calculator – yeah…just a calculator.
  • Pick/Comb – gotta stay strapped.
  • Roll-on – for those moments…
  • Pencils & Pens – essential.
  • Vaseline – lips must stay un-chapped.
  • Apple Earbuds/Charger – very essential to my everyday lifestyle.
  • Computer mouse – I think I annoy people in the library with my clicks.

I believe that this image represents me up to a certain extent. Of course, it’s almost impossible to be able to completely represent a person through their belongings however, they do give a glimpse into what an individual is like. I would say that this image represents me at a very surface level as there aren’t really any very definitive items that would hint at a certain passion or interest that I have. I consider most if not all of the items in this image quite common items that a lot of people carry around also. Creating this image was simple as well and I didn’t have any significant challenges as I did so. The most difficult part of the assignment (which wasn’t really that difficult) would be adding the little descriptions next to each of the items.

To me, anything written that allows the writer to be able to express themselves can be considered a form of writing, and a catalog of items that represents one’s self, even if the representation is not actually true, definitely fits this criteria.

But Most Importantly…

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Image of Backpack and What Is Usually In It

My backpack includes:

  • Coral Umbrella
  • Chemistry Lab Manual
  • Safety Goggles
  • Pink Planner
  • Pen/Pencil Holder (including the pens and pencils in it)
  • Laptop
  • The Great Pianist (for my seminar)
  • The Best We Could Do (for english)
  • Folders (Chemistry and QTM)
  • Health Book

The inside of my backpack is pretty simple. Most of that is from back problems and a class that is super far. But even then, I have the most important things in my bag. Even when I only have some classes one day a week, like Chemistry lab, I still keep the manual and classes in my bag at all times. I am really bad with keeping up with things so I make things easier on myself by always keeping something in the same place. I think this assignment has been the best assignment because I think it really shows who we are. Also I think you can always tell a persons headspace by their level of organization. Clutter means a cluttered mind and organized means an easygoing and peaceful mind. Thats another reason I keep my bag simple. College is a stressful place but I’m more focused on keeping my peace of mind.

THE DUDES

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The dude(me): a backpack. 

The study dude: a laptop(MacBook).

The genius dude: a calculator.

The “I’ve got your back” dude: a wallet.

The annoying dude: a health book.

The tutor dude: an economics book.

The dude with all the tools: a pencil case.

The hungry dude: a nimko bag.

Without my backpack slowly but surely I would’ve lost my way. My backpack is to me as chocolate is to vanilla. I wouldn’t survive in today’s world without my backpack, let alone the first few weeks of college. My backpack is just like me in a way it is equipped, as am I, to deal with everyday problems. The backpack is a composition of several personality traits (items) just like me: a composition of dudes. I didn’t find the assignment to be challenging; it was easy to see my bag as a representation of myself. Constructing the image was a simple process as well. I laid out all the items in a systematic manner. Representing yourself as an object would be a type of writing, but I think it would fall more into the category of personification of objects than a representation of oneself.

The link to the assignment is here.

My Backpack (feat. a spoon)

Student Posts
  • MacBook Pro (bought specifically for film editing… also some schoolwork)
  • Beats Headphones (that came with MacBook Pro)
  • Side Converter for Macbook Pro
  • Cord to connect SSD to computer for film editing (usually I’d have my SSD but I didn’t take it over fall break)
  • Random power brick
  • Earbuds that I barely use because I already have Beats
  • 4 mechanical pencils (cause why not)
  • 2 Red/3 Black Pilot G-2 07 pens (I have done all the testing and confirmed that these are the best pens to use… I literally have a pile of 20 of them in my desk drawer)
  • A spoon (not normally there but it was when I took this pic)
  • Deodorant (cause duh)
  • The Best We Could Do (cause I gotta do some work over fall break)
  • My Netflix water bottle (this is actually one of my most prized possessions. I have been using this water bottle for years and I love it with all my heart)
  • My Astrobiology class notebook (cause I have it right after English)
  • Black Backpack (that I’ve been using for the past 3 years… I was just too lazy to get one for college)

Not to sound cliché, but a backpack really does tell a lot about someone. Usually my backpack would also have two SSD’s which I always carry because they have my film footage that I’m constantly editing, but over break I purposely left those at Emory so I could focus on other work/chilling. I did do a bit of cheating to take out some things that are only there because I have to take all of my work with me to fall break, but for some reason I felt the need to include a spoon, despite the fact that this is the first time I’ve ever had a spoon in my backpack. It’s funny and quirky so I thought I might as well leave it in there. I think that typing that catalog of my backpack’s contents is most definitely a form of writing, but I also think that every time you write something it’s a form of writing, it just might not be as “poetic” or “artistic” as other forms. With the personal quippy prompting for this particular list I can get a feel for other’s personality and there is a lot of artistic freedom to do what you want with the assignment. So I would say this is a more narrative building form of writing than one might initially think.

This assignment did make me think. I have been very particular about what I put in my backpack and over the years it has evolved. From types of books to types of pencils. I do, however, keep the same stuff in the same zipper pockets –to the point where I can blindly find any type of object if it’s in my backpack. Everything has a place. Now I just wonder what my backpack will look like in 10 years…

Back to Prompt!

I’ve got it in the Bag!

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It all starts off with my adorable, efficient, and very reasonably priced pink book bag that I acquired from late night shopping on Instagram sale ads. The next most important feature is my handy MacBook, which I subtly coerced as a gift from my grandma and could definitely not live without here in college. Along with this, my book bag holds all the necessary requirements for my course load this semester. Things such as, my PACE workbook, the It’s Your Health booklet (a $25 scam more like it), and my trusty planisphere for all my astronomical desires. My bright yellow notebook and my very efficient accordion folder, that keeps my resume on deck for any opportunity, are also utilized for every single one of my classes. My bag contains my calculator, writing utensils, and colored pencils for any emergency or creative outburst that may arise. We also have my AirPods decorated with stickers to demonstrate the love and importance that they hold in my heart because I do not go anywhere without them, along with my Emory ID and wallet which is an essential item to have at all times on this campus. Finally, I carry in my bag the best present I have ever in my life received which is my reusable straw (we have to save the turtles people!).

I believe this image does a fairly good job at representing who I am. It shows the dedication I have to my education, the planet, and all the good deals on Instagram. All things which are obviously equally important. Crafting this self-portrait was not too difficult a task for me to complete. I did not remove or add anything from this image because I believe all these objects hold value and portray my day to day life in the most accurate way possible. I appreciate symmetry and did my best to arrange my self-portrait here in a way that was organized and pleasing to me. This kind of self-evaluation is definitely a type of writing in itself. These items represent who I am, what I believe, and what I value just like my writing does. I did not find this assignment challenging because like my writing, the most important aspect was the truth and the authenticity of me as a writer or creator in this world.

I’m In My Bag

Student Posts

CONTENTS

Jansport Hatchet BackPack: This backpack was selected for its unique style and functionality. Like the rest of my daily carry, each piece is essential and intentional.

MacBook Air: While this laptop is the source of all my work and productivity in college, it is also the source of all my frustration when WordPress decides to crash.

Dot & Weekly Planner: Disregarding the fact that I have to use two different planners to make sure my life doesn’t fall apart at Emory, the system I’ve developed for keeping track of everything has been fairly successful.

3 Subject NoteBook: I use this notebook to take notes for the three classes that decide to ban technology.

Beats/AirPods: Some days require a low-key drizzle, those are AirPod days. Other days require a moderate drip, those days are for Beats. Most days my friends talk so loud I have to use both at the same time.

Hydro Flask: Housing the contents of Emory’s weirdly tasting fountain water

PowerBank: I charge this thing more than It charges everything else…

Pencil Pouch: I always put my writing utensils back in here and yet somehow every time I open the pouch, there seems to be less every time.

This sketch has been my favorite assignment thus far, I often see a lot of YouTubers creating videos about their bags and when deciding what I wanted to carry in college I watched a lot of these videos. I also think this self-portrait is fairly representative of myself. Each item has a certain color way that I find pleasing to the eye. Black is one of my favorite colors because its very cool and low-key and I believe that’s how I am as well. However, black can be boring and basic so I like to give it some depth with camouflage. The mot challenging aspect of this assignment was actually taking the picture. For some reason I ended up taking the picture on the pool table in the south tower of the Student Center and I definitely got a lot of side glances when people saw me unloading my entire backpack in the middle of everyone.

I think that the catalog of my stuff is a form of writing because it accomplishes the same purpose of writing. Writing literature is all about allowing people to understand the author’s inner thoughts, just like an inside look of my bag.

Less Is More

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My Bag

When I took things out of my bag, I was surprised by how under-utilized my backpack was. For all the classes, extra-curriculum, and daily life, a laptop, a tablet with an electronic pencil, a loose-leaf binder, stationery, a wallet, and a set of keys are enough. From this photograph, my self-portrait is a tech-savvy and open-minded person, embracing new technology and innovations. Getting rid of piles of books and paper, students from my generation that grow up with electronic devices tend to embrace the disruptive technological changes in our daily life. All my textbooks are stored in my laptop as pdf, and other reading materials are available through the online library. I take notes on my iPad, and the traditional loose-leaf binder is merely used to collect handouts and other hard copies. The wallet carries a little cash that serves only as emergency use. Credit cards still prevail, but online payments like Venmo and Apple Pay are changing the game. Overall, this image is very representative of me, as my budget is the only thing that will prevent me from upgrading the technology in my life. 

I believe that this kind of representation can be counted as a type of writing. First of all, like an author, I can choose what to be included in the photo. I have the power to lead my audience’s thoughts since they will not have information from other sources. Through adding and omitting information, it is feasible to create the representation that I want, just like shaping a character in writing. Nevertheless, the audience of this photograph will have their own interpretations of the items’ purposes. They cannot help but use their own experience with the specific item, like the laptop, to analyze the author’s use of that item. This kind of engagement is also similar to that of reading a text.

The Backpack Diaries

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  • Big green backpack. Pretty color and amazing pocket space. Gives me back pain :/
  • Grey planner for an organized queen. I think I check it once a week. Oops
  • Some random books that are normally in my bag (shout out hlth 100 and pace go freshman!). No notebooks in photo, but normally notebooks in bag. Big notetaker over here
  • Giant overpowering water bottle because hydrate or die-drate and save the environment
  • Shades to block out the blinding Atlanta sun, not the haters (too basic a reference)
  • Way more writing utensils than I need. Pencils for the base of my doodles, pens to bolden outline the doodles, and highlighters to really make the doodles pop. Pens can also be used for annotation purposes I guess, maybe some notetaking here and there
  • Now, the necessities: gum (I normally go for fruity gum), air pods, lip gloss and chapstick, my room key, and one representational tampon (there are more)… go women!
  • Missing: my laptop…she was charging, sorry. She is a pain anyway because she makes the bag super heavy so I guess this is her punishment, sitting in the corner alone. 

Standing alone, my backpack is not the most representational of myself, but compared to other backpacks, it probably becomes clearer who I am. Part of what is meaningful about what is in my backpack is what isn’t in my backpack. I do not carry chargers around because I do not like to use my phone enough to drain it regularly. I do not carry around binders because I prefer notebooks and folders. I don’t carry around a hairbrush because I only brush it in the shower so it doesn’t frizz. My essentials are all crowded on the left (except my water bottle because I thought it looked more balanced on the right). Chapstick, air pods, my room key, and the not-so-controversial but still uncomfortable tampon. At first, I wasn’t going to include the tampon because I felt embarrassed, but then I thought, realistically this is one of the most important things I carry around and therefore it deserves to be seen and normalized. This assignment was challenging because I felt the backdrop (my dorm room floor) was limiting and ruined the aesthetic of the photo. I hoped that the arrangement would pop a little bit more because I left space in between the objects similar to the gutters in comics, but the multi-hued rug slightly took away from that. Still, I feel that representing myself through a photo of my “stuff” is a legitimate form of writing. I felt more comfortable using my sassy personality when describing the contents of my bag because I felt the photo spoke for itself. The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is exactly what this assignment is about.

Sketch 6: What’s in your bag?

Sketches

Due: 10/13

Tag: sk6

Find a relatively large empty space. Take your backpack, messenger bag, or whatever sort of bag you carry around with you regularly, empty all the contents out, and arrange them carefully so that they represent a visual snapshot of the stuff you tote around with you on a normal day. Then take a clear photo showing your bag and the stuff and upload it to your site.

Note that like the avatar or the literacy narrative, this too is a type of autobiographical composition. If you have something in your bag that is private, embarrassing, or for some other reason you don’t want it in the picture then make the editorial decision not to include it. Or vice versa: if you would like to assume a certain kind of persona then you might consider including items in your catalog that might be less than fully true.

Add some text to your post listing the items represented in your photo, preferably adding in a bit of explanatory and/or funny commentary along the way. This can be a paragraph of text or a list or whatever format seems most appropriate for you. When these sorts of posts are done by publications, like say The Verge or Timbuk2, they are often not so subtle efforts at product placement but for our purposes there is no reason for you to engage in such advertising games.

Along with the photo and your description of the items, include a paragraph reflecting on what it was like to craft a self-portrait through this photograph. How actually representative is this image of you as a person? What sorts of choices did you make in order to create the image? What was challenging about this assignment? Is representing yourself in a catalog of the stuff in your bag a type of writing? Why or why not?

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