Mini-comics and Personal Vision
by Austin English
Is it possible for any art to present one personal vision? Even if someone writes a short story, prints up copies of it at Kinko's, and sells it on the street, with no involvement from anyone else, there is no guarantee that when it is read by someone other than the author, that the authors original vision will be seen. In fact, there is a strong guarantee that the view of the reader will be very different from that originally conceived when the words were put to pen. The same goes for painting, music, and any other form of artwork.
And this is on the most basic level. Personal vision cannot be communicated even when one person creates something on their own. When other people enter into the creative process, all of their original personal visions for the project become increasingly vague and undefinable. This is not to say that collaboration is not a viable form of art, but the fact that personal vision becomes co-opted is undeniable.
Perhaps the question that needs answering first is, can someone truly create art on their own, without any one else's involvement? Mediums such as film are out, for obvious reasons. Music is pretty much limited to street performers (and I feel bad writing it off this way. Street performers do present a personal vision, but that's a whole other column). Painting and prose remain, but are still limited for the reasons listed in the first paragraph. (Painting perhaps achieves personal vision more often than anything else, but a single static image in bound to be misinterpreted by everyone except the painter..and perhaps there in lies the beauty. Still, the topic at hand is personal vision).
So, using the definition that personal vision can be achieved in art that is created by one individual and able to present a viewpoint to another individual, is it realistic to expect personal vision from any work of art?
Well, no, if you limit your definition of art to the one's already discussed. Of course, if you consider comics as an art form, then you have perhaps the closest example to an art that can achieve this illusive trait.
First of all, we must establish that if this is to be done in comic form, it cannot be accomplished in the form most mainstream comics are assembeled – a separate individual does every task, creating a staff complete with a writer, a peniciller, an inker, a letterer, an editor, and of course a publisher. Of course, for personal vision to be achieved this would be a comic written and illustrated by one person, and published by that person as well. Believe it or not, this type of comic does exist.
They are most commonly referred to as mini-comic's, mainly due to the fact that most comics published in this way are by people who only have enough money to print a comic in black and white, and a great deal smaller than a traditional comic, to save money. Of course, many people choose this format because they prefer the aesthetic, John Porcellino being a prime example. And before I get thousand e-mails from people calling me a moron, let me just acknowledge that I know most (not all) mini-comics are shit. Keep in mind, it's the potential of the form I'm interested in. In fact, I'm not just interested in it – I'm in love with it.
Comics are already the most intimate form of narration. The artist makes a mark on a piece of paper, and the reader sees this mark. The connection between creator and reader is fascinating, since a personal vision is being transferred from one person to another. While some might say the same goes for prose or painting, I disagree. First of all, comics combine narration and pictures, thereby limiting misinterpretation. Also, prose is taking an idea, and transferring it into words, which is filtering it through a series of symbols, immediately lessening the connection. Painting also suffers, because without narration and juxtaposition, painting is open to wide misinterpretation. As I said earlier though, therein lies the charm.
But comics become even more intimate and personal when they are self-published in mini-comic format. Without a publisher, editor, or anyone else save the cartoonist (writer/artist), we have a form that can communicate an idea of personal vision like no other. There is no middleman, except the man or woman who sells you the piece of artwork, and they of course play no process in the reading experience. Perhaps the person at Kinko's is the middleman, but that's nitpicking.
Unfortunately, mini-comics produce very few great works. There are exceptions, but the best examples of comic artwork (in America at least), are not self-published. Besides R. Crumbs Zap, which was self-published, the landmark work continues to be brought to the public by the likes of Fantagraphics, Drawn and Quarterly, and a host of younger publishers such as Top Shelf and Highwater books.
But, an interesting development enters this debate when you consider the scary state comics are in at the moment. Sales are down, the distribution system is fucked beyond belief, and many people believe that comics will not exist in a matter of years. At least, not in the traditional form of comics shops, distributors and publishers. I disagree, but I don't discount the possibility. If this does happen, mini-comics will no doubt remain, since an industry can be crushed, but personal vision cannot.
So, to summarize this long rambling, personal vision is next to unachievable in any medium. Comics, in their most basic form of mini-comics, come the closest, but while personal vision is achieved through these types of comics, one must question whether the personal vision being offered is worth reading. Still, it is a fascinating form, because, on a very idealized level, it brings personal expression to the level of the people at a small cost.
When we get down to the basics, art is the exchange of ideas and personal expression. Despite their flaws, mini-comics achieve this like no other form of art, and they deserve a glance or two.
Copyright © 1999 by Austin English
Austin English was born in San Francisco where he continues to reside to this day. His interviews with alternative cartoonists have appeared throughout the Internet, most notably at www.indymagazine.com. He also has a self-published mini-comic entitled The Tenth Frame available for just $1.00. You can contact him atthree1145@aol.com, or P.O. Box 460584 San Francisco, CA 94146-0584.