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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which country's artists widely adopted photographic trickery such as blurring and streaking soon after its inception?

2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of comics, as defined in Understanding Comics?

3. Due to the negative connotation of the word "comics," many comics artists have preferred to be known as ________________________.

4. Which of the following point in time of the panel is represented by where your eyes are focused?

5. What genre cannot exist in comics?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to McCloud, everything that people experience in life can be separated into which two realms?

2. According to McCloud, are comics a hybrid of graphic arts and prose fiction?

3. How can an artist depict time in comics?

4. How do words introduce time into a single frame?

5. Why is "juxtaposed static images in deliberate sequence" not a thorough definition of comics?

6. Why does the author introduce the Margritte painting, "The Treachery of Images"?

7. What is a Japanese technique usied in cartooning?

8. Is Scott McCloud the ultimate authority of comics?

9. What is McCloud's explanation for why the human mind has little difficulty converting shapes and images into faces?

10. What is the difference between the art form ("medium") and the content?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

McCloud argues children are fascinated by the simplicity and universal identification of cartoons and that these characteristics allow the viewer to step inside the cartoon universe. Do you agree that by simplifying the drawing style, one allows the viewer to see the message more clearly? Explain your perspective using examples.

Essay Topic 2

In aspect-to-aspect transitions, McCloud says that nothing "happens." Is presenting different aspects of a place important to storytelling? Why or why not? Do you think McCloud is accurate in saying that this kind of transition does not move the narrative along?

Essay Topic 3

New media is often judged by the standards of the old. Do you think these are appropriate standards? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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