THE IMAGERY OF BLOOD SONG
... silhouettes. It ‘s easy to relate to the girl simply by recalling a time when you were actually or metaphorically running away from something. Feelings of uncertainty and fear of the unknown are inspired by these panels. “We humans are a self-centered race. We see ourselves in everything. We assign identities and emotions where none exist (McCloud, Understanding Comics, pg 32-33).” It’s easier to relate to the main character as a result of her simple facial features. We humans are able to make something as basic as a straight line and two dots into a face. Drooker uses this self-centeredness to his advantage in portraying her emotions. The art style of Blood Song allows the message to reach the reader without becoming clouded or twisted by the detail of the art. “By de-emphasizing the appearance of the physical world in favor of the idea of form, the cartoon places itself in the world of concepts (McCloud, 41).” Books like Blood Song , devoid of dialogue, allow for much conceptualization. While the main character and her canine companion are at sea, they become trapped by a whirlpool. The two pages following this scene depict the view point from underneath their boat in amongst a sea of red and purple blood cells. Clearly, these panels are not meant to be taken literally. This use of symbolism suggests that just as the flowing of blood cells in our bodies enable growth and change, so do our main characters traveling through oceans of change . The bigger picture relates the life cycle from cells all the way up to planets as the art shows in the beggining and end of the book. Certain themes run through both settings of city and country life- the hanging of laundry, need for shelter, the presence of fauna (birds), and the natural law that no matter where you are in the world the sun and moon are constants. “Simple style doesn’t necessitate simple story (McCloud, 45).” The backgrounds in Blood Song are very believable despite their simplicity. Her homeland could easily represent any jungle that is, or more likely was, untainted by industry. There are several scenes that depict many tropical trees that are native to various parts of the world. The city can also be likened to many large cities across...