Week1 The Arrival

 To tell a story without words, especially literature like The Arrival by Shaun Tan has three aspects of expression, the expression of emotion, the high level of expression skill, and linear flow between pictures.

First of all, it is easy to read most of the stories with facial expressions and body language. Most of the time, it is easy to suggest what these characters feeling about because of either a well-shown face or dramatic posture of the body. They are really important elements to communicate with others, especially when people do not speak the same language in common. Even I could not understand exactly what the person was saying, at least I could understand what type of emotion they are telling me when I can see their face.

 Second, the high level of expression skill is also important to tell a story without dialog. When it is totally vague pictures, such as abstract art, it is impossible for me to read the story because I even cannot understand what is drawn. Having non-understandable elements is not a problem, but other surroundings should be legible to tell what the story is about.

 Third, making linear flow and relation between pictures is helpful to tell a story. It is the same technique used in film making. For example, when the first picture is about the main character is taking action to the person, the next picture is the reaction shot of the person. These pictorial flows are supporting to the reader to understand the flow of the storyline.  

 These three elements, facial expression, and body language, high level of drawing skill, and linear relation between pictures, support the story to be told fluently to readers.