Visual Storytelling - Myths, Fairy Tales, Fables, Narratives

In this assignment I want you to create an image or set of images that tell a story. Your story can be based on a myth, fairy tale or fable. You can make your piece relate to the whole narrative or focus more specifically on a smaller section of the narrative.

For this assignment, you have freedom as to the scale of the piece, the layout of the piece, and the materials used to make the piece. The main idea is to convey a narrative using visual means. You also have the option to integrate text into the design if you chose.

Here are some formats to consider.

Horizontal Scroll: This format is used often in East Asian Handscrolls. The narrative can read from left to right or right to left.

Comic Book Style: Different scenes are defined by registers (and maybe text, if desired).

A Series of Images: Narrative conveyed by separate sheets

Linear Narrative: The Passage of time is conveyed in a single image.

Try to find the most important events of your narrative. These are the events that you will illustrate with your pieces.

In your images, decide how you will use design principles to create dynamic, engaging compositions. How will you use focal points to direct the viewer’s eye and help tell the story?

Things to keep in mind: The main characters in your storyWhat main points do you want to convey?How are you going to convey characters who show up from piece to piece? (What kinds of visual linking methods will you use so we know what character is what?)How will you imitate space?How will you give a sense of place (are your characters floating on the page, or are you creating a world for them to exist in)?How will you imitate movement or action?How true to the original story do you want to be? ---Do you want to present a faithful interpretation of the story, or do you want to present a twisted, or subverted version, a feminist Cinderella, or a Hansel and Gretel where the children eat the witch, or a contemporary Snow White? How will the events you choose, the drawings you make, and the details you add contribute to how you are presenting your story?

Timeline: 3/12 – Introduce concepts of Movement and visual storytelling. Introduce project.3/14 – Have your myth chosen by this date. Work-day in class on storyboarding, thumbnail sketches. 3/19 – Have your project 50% completed by this day. Work day in class. 3/21 – Final Projects due