Comics are very dynamic as they can be used for lots of purposes across subjects. In the context of Covid-19, data comics play an important role in informing, disseminating digital health information, and demonstrating the outbreak narrative to help us digest, reflect on reality experiences (Callender 2020).
From the workshop, guidance for creating storyboards including writing the scripts, identifying characters and settings, and drawing techniques were given. From my perspective, it is crucial to acknowledge how to synthesize the information into the comics by visualizing what we have been reading and turning it into casual dialogues. It is interesting to learn about applying narrative arc for the story’s development.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, people in the world have been forced to adjust and adapt to the “new normal”. These changed lifestyles affect individuals’ well-being and their romantic relationship. On one hand, the pandemic has facilitated opportunities for couples to spend more time with each other, which helps to increase intimacy. On the other side, the pandemic has induced the breakup and increasing divorce rates in the world (BBC News 2020). Ample factors are leading to this problem. For an instant, suffering from loss, isolation, and separation during lockdown exerts negative influences on couple relationships (Pietromonaco 2022). Besides, mental health problems such as anxiety and depression individuals came across during the lockdown are one of the reasons behind this (BBC News 2020). As a result, this leads to the surge into online advice. There are several tips are available on social media platforms to help relationships stay resilient. However, comics help to illustrate social aspects that cannot explain in words (Kearns 2020)
Based on the research of Pietromonaco (2022) discussing the impacts of pandemic-related loss, isolation, and separation in couples’ relationships, I carried on the workshop project turning storyboards into comics.
I follow the steps withdrawn from the workshop. First focus on creating content in the rough draft. Then import thought into the storyboard and move on to creating characters and backgrounds but guarantee consistency between these two elements.
References:
Callender, B., Obuobi, S., Czerwiec, M. K. and Williams, I., 2020. COVID-19, comics, and the visual culture of contagion. The Lancet, 396(10257), 1061-1063.
Kearns, C. and Kearns, N., 2020. The role of comics in public health communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of visual communication in medicine, 43(3), 139-149.
Pietromonaco, P. R. and Overall, N. C., 2022. Implications of social isolation, separation, and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic for couples’ relationships. Current opinion in psychology, 43, 189-194.
Race, M., 2020. ‘Divorce boom’ forecast as lockdown sees advice queries rise. BBC News[online], 12 September 2020. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54117821 [Access 30 January 2022].
Savage, M., 2020. Coronavirus: The possible long-term mental health impacts. BBC News[online], 29 October 2020. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201021-coronavirus-the-possible-long-term-mental-health-impacts [Accessed 30 January 2022].
Savage, M., 2020. Why the pandemic is causing spikes in break-ups and divorces. BBC News[online], 7 December 2020. Available from: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201203-why-the-pandemic-is-causing-spikes-in-break-ups-and-divorces [Accessed 30 January 2022].