 a centre for alternative perspectives |
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In India, we have always enjoyed the fuzzy borders between image, word, music and dance, resulting in
the Rajasthani phad or the Bengal pat, which are fine examples of pictorial story telling. The great
comics master, Scott McCloud, shows us in his masterpiece, Understanding Comics, that comics are not
only not a low form of art, but are highly complex, creative and even metaphysical. By combining
writing with art in a unique syntax, comic books have evolved a language and grammar of their own.
The genre of comics is not an exclusive property of any one culture, nation or continent.
The Fumettis of Italy, the Manga of Japan or the Francophone comics - this compelling narrative
art is now secure and comfortable. Viveka is convinced about the power of comics and is attempting
to evolve a distinctly Indian idiom.
Is there anyone amongst us who has not picked up a comic in our childhood and not been sucked into
its magical world? One cannot deny that they make the next best storytellers after the proverbial
grandmother. With the increasing phenomenon of nuclear families and the absence of stories, comics
are becoming not just a replacement but an indispensable companion.
Comics are increasingly seen as a tool for social communication, communicating to both the
non-literate and neo-literate constituency on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from health
to human rights
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