Synthesis

My dissertation and practical have a strong synthesis, my dissertation explores how comics portray mental health and depression, and if it can be done successfully, sympathetically and honestly. For my practical I have demonstrated that they are a medium that most defiantly can. My comic proves this and more, through my testing and development I have shown that they can not only do this, but do it wordlessly and give out subtle different meanings through small changes. This shows that comics can do this if thought about enough. I also was greatly influenced by my research in other comics on mental health in doing this. Taking metaphors from the 'Black Dog' series, the honesty from 'Hyperbole and a Half', and the visual storytelling of 'Arkham Asylum' and 'Elephantmen'. This shows that through analysis there are already comics around that display these issues well in different ways. They may not all cover all areas perfectly, but by taking inspiration from all of them I have created something that does.