I think that Watchmen is unusual in its non-sequential narrative framework, often jumping between flashbacks and re-visiting the same flashback multiple times. That being said, I feel that the stylistic selection of color within the panels of Watchmen helps to inform readers of the relationship between distinct narrative components, often signaling sequential transitions and temporal jumps. In addition to clarifying the relationship between various panels, the use of color in Watchmen also affords the story a very emotional, highly fantastical sensibility. I think that the constant change in color scheme (both for setting and character) adds a sense of surrealism to the work. In many cases, color usage in Watchmen also has symbolic significance or adds a sense of urgency to the scene. Examples can be seen in the transition between the Comedian's death to Rorschach's visiting of his grave on page 70 and in the Comedian's violent depiction in Vietnam on page 129.
All in all, I think that the use of color in Watchmen is unique, innovative, and symbolically significant.
Edit: I managed to stumble across a web page devoted specifically to exhibiting the use of color in the Watchmen series. Although the webpage doesn't include an academic analysis of the effects and benefits of specific color usage, nor does it contextualize color usage within a specific panel by setting it in dialogue with the rest of the page, it does boast quite the selection of panels comprised of innovative and non-normative color usage. I'm including some examples below as they pertain to my blog entry, but feel free to view the entire site here.
-Matt
I'd like to take your post one step further by maybe discussing the effects and use of specific colors. I agree with you that the non normative colors makes it surreal and gives it a sense of urgency. Especially in the two examples you posted above, there is often a contrast between dark and lighter colors within a panel. The colors in Watchmen do a lot more to tell a story than any text could: the highlight on the smiley face served to change the symbol of the happy face to one that is imperfect, corrupted, and degrading. The use of red, of course symbols violence, but in the first panel I would say it suggests the dripping feel of the blood is the start of violence, creeping into everyone's lives. The second panel over uses the red, where almost everything is some shade of red. This makes me think of the phrase "seeing red" when one is angry / killing someone. The perspective makes the reader see red, essentially bringing the readers into the story and having them see the perspective of the murderer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the use of colors in Watchmen effectively conveys the mood of the panels. The use of complementary colors, orange and purple in Watchmen, not only conveys the tension in the story, but it also accords with the change of the visual layouts. In all, I think that the creative use of colors definitely makes the comic more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the use of colors in Watchmen effectively conveys the mood of the panels. The use of complementary colors, orange and purple in Watchmen, not only conveys the tension in the story, but it also accords with the change of the visual layouts. In all, I think that the creative use of colors definitely makes the comic more enjoyable.
ReplyDelete