Chris Ware - Non-linear narrative

Ware often uses non-linear narrative to explain the hidden features of a character such as their thoughts or backstory. In this example of 'Quimby Mouse' [1], movement is shown through film-strip like frames that can be read in any order. Although this seems contrary to the nature of comics in general, it can be used to explain more about a character or environment.

A similar technique is used in the book 'Here' [2], which shows the same small area through many years, from early life to the 2010s and everywhere in between. It does not show it in sequence and also focuses on some years / scenes in particular.

I thought about the complexities of a tube train and how different the people are that use it every day. There is a teenager listening to music, on her way home from school and thinking about sleep and a businessman on his way home and the contents of both of their bags. There are also graphic elements in the adverts and maps shown inside. 

References

[1] Ware 1990

[2] McGuire 2014

Bibliography

Pinterest. 2016. Chris Ware Diagram. [ONLINE] Available at: https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/32158584809045142/. [Accessed 9 December 2016].

The Guardian. 2014. Here by Richard McGuire review – an exquisitely drawn ecological warning. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/21/here-richard-mcguire-review-exquisitely-drawn-ecological-warning. [Accessed 9 December 2016].

Wikipedia. 2016. Quimby the Mouse. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quimby_the_Mouse. [Accessed 9 December 2016].