Graphic narrative

A graphic narrative is a picture narrative that tells a story in a predominantly static visual form. The term graphic narrative does not presuppose the content (comic or comix), length (graphic novel), or style (manga).The term graphic implies fixed and visual, but not necessarily printed. Although the vast majority of graphic narratives are the printed narrative art found in books and newspapers, it is important to also include original works of art in paintings, relief carvings, and tapestries. Outside the definition of graphic narratives are dynamic visual narratives such as movies, television, and cartoons. Such media are discussed as important influences on the development of modern graphic narratives, but the nature of viewing them is distinctly different from the moving images that dictate the time allowed for viewing. Other terms that have similar connotations to the term graphic narratives are the German word bildergeschichte, which literally translates as “picture stories” and the French term bande dessinée, which means “drawings in a row” and is often quite conveniently abbreviated simply as BD. The term graphic narratives has the advantage that it does not presume any prior history, or category, and it is more focused on the storytelling aspects of the genre than the other recently minted term, sequential art, by Will Eisner.