Comparing Media
Now explain that while some techniques are used in more than one medium, in other cases different media use different techniques.
Ask: If we wanted to show that someone was strong or powerful in writing, how might we do it?
- Having them do something that showed their strength, or using adjectives like burly or mighty.
What techniques could we use in comics to show that someone was strong that wouldn’t work, or would be more difficult, in a live-action video?
- We could draw them in an exaggerated way or have them do impossible feats of strength.
What could we do in a film that we couldn’t do in comics?
- We could use “heroic” music or cast an actor who’s known for their strength, like a bodybuilder or a professional wrestler.
Now ask students if they have ever seen a movie or TV show that was based on a comic book such as Marvel movies, Batman or Superman movies, etc.
How were the movie and the comic similar?
How were they different?
Let students discuss for a few minutes and then project Comparing Media: Movies vs. Comics or distribute the handout.
Explain that the left circle is live-action movies and the right is comics, and go through it with the class:
- things that are just in one circle are techniques that one medium but not the other uses to tell stories, and to tell you what to pay attention to
- things in the middle section are techniques that both media use to tell stories or tell you what to pay attention to
Now ask: What would be some challenges of adapting something from one medium to the other?
- Are there kinds of movies or kinds of comics where the overlap is bigger?
- For example, animated movies or photo-comics.