GNED 1404 Essay: Comparing and Contrasting Comics by Cho and Fransman

This essay provides a comparative analysis of two graphic narratives: Michael Cho's "Night Time" and Kierra Fransman's "Above Water." It explores how both comics address the theme of growing up, but through distinct narrative and visual approaches. The essay examines the textual and visual elements of each comic, drawing on insights from Scott McCloud to understand the impact of the illustrations. It highlights how Cho portrays the anxieties and uncertainties of adolescence, while Fransman tackles the issue of abuse and the struggle for self-worth. The essay compares the depiction of struggle, the use of symbolism, and the artists' respective styles, concluding that comics are a powerful medium for storytelling, capable of conveying complex ideas and perspectives.

Running head: ENGLISH
Student Name
Professor Baker
GNED 1404
March 10th, 2020
Writing about Images
Introduction
Question: Both Fransman and Cho explore a challenge or challenges that a young woman
experiences while maturing. Is this the only similarity? Compare or contrast these two graphic
narratives, focusing on both the textual narrative and the visual narrative. McCloud should
provide some insight into analyzing the images; Fransman may also provide some insight. You
will find a link to her TEDx comic talk on Blackboard under “Class slides” and under
“Recommended Reading.” Be sure to check Purdue OWL MLA Works Cited: Electronic sources
for how to create an entry for a YouTube video. Make sure you dig below the surface to find
themes or ideas (recall from McCloud, Chapter 7) that may be important to the authors.
Basic Ideas: Michael Cho and Kierra Fransman explores the theme of growing up, in two very
different ways. They present through their comics about how girls mature into become women as
they explore through various phases in life. The narratives and story employed by the two artists
are very different in their respective comic storytelling, through illustrations yet are very
important to understand maturity and the act of growing up. Fransman as well as Cho translate

2
ENGLISH
their thoughts through comics, as they do best and convinces people reading their comics of the
powerful ideas, which they wish to send across (Karriefransman.com).
Thesis: The thesis of this essay is to compare and contrast the two comics, as they both challenge
and present two very different depictions through their work of art. The textual and visual
narrative employed in the comic shall also be discussed in the paper.
Category of Evidence 1:
Cho and Fransman explore maturity and growth of girls into women in their respective Comics
Night Time and Above Water.
 Cho depicts a story of a girl who, for the first time has set out for an adventure sneaking
out on the road with some of her friends who happen to be boys. She is seen, from the
very first instance apprehensive of the idea, even though she wants to explore. Cho has
presented the story is a very clever manner, as he shows the dilemma which youngsters
go thorough while growing up and learning about unknown things about the world, and
very often get fascinated by their discovery.
 Night Time is a story which is representative of a girl in her teen age years, not sure of
her feelings, emotions and sensations completely. It is the time, when she is encountering
the changes happening within herself, even though she is unsure of them (Cho). The
narrative in the comic is from the girl’s perspective, which shows, from the very
beginning as she is not quite certain about what she wants.
 The phase of adolescence is considered to be a very sensitive age, when children grow to
become young adults experiencing various bodily changes too while they encountering
several emotions and sensations, which they have not had earlier.

3
ENGLISH
 On the contrary, the themes which have been explored by Fransman in her comic Above
Water is quite different than that of Cho, as she chooses to address a very alarming issue,
which can be traced in the society, as girls are subjected to abuses and tortures, while
they are not allowed to grow.
 Fransman explores, through the comic that girls, at their homes are disrespected and are
often not accepted as they are, while their wings to fly and conquer the world are always
trimmed by their very parents.
 This struggle is often unheard, as they are not allowed to express about their experiences.
However, the safest place on Earth, that is, home, become nightmarish, as they are
abused and tortured for what they are, as they are made to feel worthless about
themselves.
Category of Evidence 2:
Cho and Fransman’s representations are quite different from one another.
 Cho chooses to explore and depict a very personal development, as felt by the girl in the
comic, much alike everyone during their adolescent years.
 Cho choses to contrast her growth while placing her among a band of boys, who are
different from her, biologically, as she experiences her sensations and changes,
differently as opposed to them (Cho).
 Cho tries to make a distinction, as the girl makes a bold action responding to her
sensations, while she was ashamed just the moments earlier, just at the very thought,
when she heard Sharon saying that they must be making out. She also was very scared to
even look at Tony, all throughout the course of hiding.

4
ENGLISH
 However, she explored the unexplored responding to her sensations finally by kissing
Tony, which she could not comprehend, all the while in the dark, only trying to
understand the out of body, hypnotic feeling. She realized, all she felt was to kiss
somebody.
 To contrast the depiction made by Cho, on the other hand is Fransman’s comic, in which
she has addressed a very serious issue, which makes young girls lose their identity and
self worth, as they are constantly made to feel miserable about themselves.
 Fransman sheds light on the very gnawing issue, as she thought it to be important, to be
heard by the world, as she has done in her comic.
 She lets her world view affect the world by narrating the story of Karly and Melody, who
defy odds and save each other from drowning. The two girls are victims of their reality as
they both have faced physical and mental abuses and not felt safe at their very home.
 Their story reverberates the struggle of several other young women, who are denied
rights to grow and embrace their own selves, as they are restricted to believe in what they
are strictly not.
Category of Evidence 3:
Depiction of Struggle.
 Fransman explores through a very difficult story as it moves the readers, while she also
gives voice to the voiceless and points out very important aspects of the society.
 The society is cruel and young girls go through hardships to find their true self and to
pursue their dreams. Karly and Melody found each other and stuck by themselves until
they two broke free from the shackles which held them down.

5
ENGLISH
 Fransman has also highlighted how important is mental health, as young girls go through
childhood trauma, which dictate their personality and responses.Karly and Melody could
overcome their tormenting experiences by seeking help and taking therapy.
 Cho also explores through confusions and apprehensions faced by a young woman. Yet
Fransman’s comic has deeper roots in the societal constructs and parenting.
 Cho also depicts a very personal struggle but in a lighter manner, with the usage of
darkness, as suggesting the suppressed sensations and emotions.
 As have been said by Fransman, comics help to communicate with the world, which both
the artists have been able to achieve through their representations (Karriefransman.com).
Category of Evidence 4:
Both the artists explore through what is considered as taboo in the society, in their respective
styles, one of which is lighter, while other bear more seriousness.
 The world of comics can create a narrative and different perspective, which can be
understood without having to use many words. Fransman and Cho has done that
exceptionally well, as they have maintained objectivity, even though the subject matter
and style of addressing them are different.
 Both the comics create a sequential visual art which create a narrative of its own and
offer closure too (Johncaserta.info).
 The night time is very evident through the illustration and setting of darkness, which
creates set the ambience and narrative right, as the girl encounters unknown sensation,
which she has to confront. The dark setting is a metaphor for the unknown and
unexplored, which the girl gets to explore at night time, even when she is skeptical and
cannot fathom her feelings.

6
ENGLISH
 Above Water has very vivid illustrations, which make the readers associate and
understand the events, as are experienced by the girls, while they struggle to deal with
reality and save each other from drowning (Johncaserta.info). The illustrations of water
and drowning are very precise and make them symbolic of their own experiences, as they
keep trying to keep their head above water (Johncaserta.info).
Conclusion
It can be concluded by saying that story telling is a very primal and primitive nature of human
beings and they should embrace it for sending across the right messages. Comics is a very
powerful medium, which must be understood with much seriousness, as is expressed by
Fransman. The artists have been able to translate their ideas through their comics as their
narrative go beyond the words but tell story and create a worldview.

7
ENGLISH
References
Cho, Michael. "Night Time". Taddlecreekmag.Com, 2020,
https://www.taddlecreekmag.com/night-time.
Johncaserta.info. Mm12.Johncaserta.Info, 2020,
http://mm12.johncaserta.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Understanding%20Comics
%20(The%20Invisible%20Art)%20By%20Scott%20McCloud.pdf.
Karriefransman.com. "Karrie Fransman's Comics And Visual Storytelling » Tedx Comic
Talk". Karriefransman.Com, 2020, https://www.karriefransman.com/project/115/.