Juxta-what?

Juxtaposition

Have you ever wondered if some things happened by coincidence or by fault? Have you ever wondered the irony behind finding condoms next to the baby diapers aisle in a supermarket? Have you ever wondered why some rather odd signs like then one at the left  are placed together thinking it was mere chance? Well actually, many times this doesn't occur out of sheer luck. It is: juxtaposition, or "the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect". Likewise, in comic books this tends to occur more than you would imagine. Comic panels are always side by side, providing the author with a huge opportunity for utilizing juxtaposition. 

Moreover, you can see an example of this in the book Maus by Art Spiegelman. In page 93, Vladek is explaining some details about his holocaust memories, when all of the sudden he stops, and tells Spiegelman that they should continue another day. Vladek alternates drastically from  how "those with a stamp were let go home. But there were very few jews now left in Sosnowiec." to an abrupt "well..it's enough for today. Yes, Artie?" (Pg.93) This quick snap back into reality makes realize how psychologically affecting the holocaust was. The fact that Vladek cannot speak more, or think about what happened more than forty years ago show the extent to which World War Two affected people, especially the  jewish. Furthermore, this not only makes the comic frame story, but adds to its realism and the sentiment Spiegelman wants to convey its viewer. Juxtaposition plays with the readers mind and is a great technique used by Spigelman to convey his message very throughly. 

This is a form comic book artists can add emphasis to different things, and truly highlight what they want to express. Such abrupt changes can happen in writing, but they are more suddle than when using both images and texts. Likewise, when you read a text you rely in descriptions, adjectives and adverbs. When reading comic books a whole new opportunity to transmit information to the viewer is opened. For instance, in the last panel where Vladek is siting in his spinning bicycle, you can notice and actually perceive his fatigue instantaneously. Through text only, you cannot receive such a deep and intimate response, and your imagination is open to interpretation.

This aids in highlighting Spiegelman's approach to the reader, and form of transmitting feelings.  I feel comics are a more intimate approach to the reader. You can connect to the viewer through images and common human facial traits that are perceived instantaneously rather than having to decode linguistic symbols like letters and words. Comics can take into advantage the use of juxtaposition and utilize it to transmit their ideas or messages to the reader. It is a great advantage comic artists have that simple novel writers don't.