圖像敘事理論運用於無字繪本創作研究

Abstract

對讀者而言，在沒有文字的輔助時，閱讀的重點往往會聚焦在圖像上，如何建構出圖像語言的敘事能力，變成創作無字繪本最重要的任務。圖像敘事能夠有故事傳達性，但不會全然支配讀者的想像空間，且故事會因為每個人的閱讀經驗差異而有不同詮釋，這是圖像敘事有趣的可能性，也是無字繪本能夠成為發揮創造力的媒介之主因。 本研究目標是創作出青少年以上適讀的敘事性無字繪本，在文獻部分探討無字繪本的定義與其類型，約分成敘事與概念兩類；透過圖像敘事相關理論的研究，將羅蘭・巴特的敘事符碼對應到構圖要素中；包含圖像敘事結構裡的人物刻畫、場域、時間、事件等手法，並彙整以上結論作為創作的理論基礎。在案例分析法上，以《紐約時報》得獎選書（New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books）敘事性無字繪本為探討對象，歸納其創作手法、敘事結構與特色要點，總結出好的敘事性無字繪本須能兼及以下面向：一、圖像敘事結構將故事情感精準表達；二、運鏡手法靈活，讓讀者更容易融入情境；三、構圖處處安排細節，加深故事情境與深度；四、圖畫完整度高，可看性十足。 歸納整理前述之學理與經驗，導入創作實務驗證，以「人與人之間的際遇」作為無字繪本的故事主題，將悲歡離合的情緒感知配合敘事元素的起承轉合，完成作品《當她遇到她》的設計創作，並與敘事理論交互檢核，獲致結論有四點：一、無字繪本體現出故事的開放性意義與讀者的參與感之價值；二、敘事符碼對應到構圖要素是無字繪本敘事性的關鍵；三、無字繪本中圖像間的連續性決定敘事能力；四、鏡頭語言的變化表現豐富讀者的感受程度。希冀本研究結果能作為日後無字繪本創作相關研究之參考依據。This study aims to understand how applying visual iconographic narrative theory on images in wordless picture book will allow the images to become a media that is independent from words, and capable to convey a full narrative on its own. When reading a wordless picture book, the reader relies heavily on pictures to understand the narrative. Hence it is crucial to employ visual iconographic narrative. Visual iconographic narrative can convey the story, without dominating it or taking away the freedom of imagination from the readers. The freedom of interpretation is what makes visual iconographic narrative so full of potential and fun. It is also the reason why wordless picture book is a great media to encourage creativity. The goal of this study is to create a wordless picture book for teenage and adult readers. In literature review, wordless picture books will be defined and categorized. In research method, case study will be conducted in two stages. In the first stage, the focus will be on concluding the common features of all wordless picture books. The goal of this stage will be to study how images are split, how the frames are arranged, and the design of the cover and the back cover of such books. In the second stage, I will move on to discuss several wordless picture books that were selected by New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books. In doing so, I expect to conclude the techniques, iconographic narrative structure, and common strengths and features of these books. The results of the case studies would be applied in the creation of the book to better achieve an ideal wordless picture book. The creation When She Met Her will follow the design model concluded from the study, and the theme of the story will be the “chance encounter” between one human being and another. This study bears the hope to resonate with the readers and shed some light on the field of wordless picture books for researchers in the future.