Class notes on positioning techniques

Pages 30/31 

The frames when Vladek and Art are talking do not have borders. This is showing that they are in the present and not in story-telling mode.

In the fourth frame, when the Polish Nazis came to talk to the seamstress, they
are positioned standing over her and they are the main focus of the frame. This
shows dominance and symbolises their significant importance.

In the frame with Miss Stefanska sitting in the prison, the jail bars are in
the foreground and she is in the background, in the dark. This makes the jail
seem dark and scary.

In the last three frames, the characters are drawn black. This symbolises how
they’re having a hushed conversation late one night.

The artist chose to put a question mark as a thought from Miss Stefanska in the
second frame. This is because the artist wasn’t able to draw her face so he
chose to show her expression through symbols. 

Pages 34/35

On page 34, in the first frame, the narrative states that everyone is excited and frightened. The author displays this by making the font in the speech bubbles big, bold and capitalized with exclamation marks at the end. This naturally draws the audience’s eyes to feel their expression.

In the third frame, the Nazi flag is shaded in to show the importance and dark colour since the book is in black and white. This also draws the eye of the reader so that they can feel the importance of the event.

On page 35, in the first frame, in the window in the background an outline of the pogrom is shown holding all the weapons. This relates back to the dialogue of a Jew telling the audience what is going on. The author has made the imagery of the pogrom vague, as it’s only an outline. This was used to make the reader wonder about the events taking place outside the train

In the second frame, the main image that is shown is the Nazi flag. It is shown in big and takes up most of the frame to draw the eye of the audience. Next to the Nazi symbol, the word Jude is written in “drippy” white writing against a black background, which is a window. There is also the Star of David next to it. The font is created to show that this window has been vandalized showing the anti-Semitism feel

In the third frame, the blown up Nazi symbol is still the background. In front of the symbol, Nazi’s are shown snickering and making a Jew hold a big symbol that says, “I am a filthy Jew”. The face of the Jew holding the sign is not shown, this is because he is facing his head downwards to show that he feels humiliated

In the fourth frame, the Nazi symbol against a black background remains the exact same. The size of the Nazi symbol is used to create a feel of power that the audience can feel. It is to show that the Nazi’s are the most dominant. In front of the symbol, a large picture of a Nazi is raising a baton against a Jew who has his arm raised and crying for help. Next to the pair, another Nazi is dragging away a Jew whilst laughing. This shows the sadness of the Jews and the dominant cruel power that the Nazi’s possessed whilst afflicting them

In the fifth frame, the Nazi symbol is still blown up to show that the Nazi’s are still in power and have left damage to the town. Therefore, making them win the conflict. There is a banner sign stating, “This town is Jew free”. Behind the sign, the picture shows deserted houses all lined up, backing up the statement that the town is Jew free.

The last frame shows a bunch of Jews speaking to each other on a train discussing the events taking place with the Nazis; their expressions show the reader that they are worried and frightened. In the speech bubble, it states that they hope the Germans will not start a war. This also backs up the Jews facial expressions.

Pages 40/41Frames and Gutters:

These include the positioning techniques of frame as the pictures of the frame around them and they also have gutters. These are used to separate the conversations so that the reader does not confused.

 

Background:

There was some background, which was the narration to explain to the reader what was happening other than the dialogue.

 

Graphic Weight:

The car in one frame is a lot darker to draw attention to the fact that Anja and Richieu.  

Figures/characters:

In the drawings where Vladek is old you can the lines that show wrinkles on his face making him look older. The spectacles also help to point this out. 

Hands/feet:

Vladek’s hands are always doing gestures to show how he is trying to explain his story. 

Camera angles:

Some frames are longer showing a bigger picture with the words to the side of the frame showing a long shot. This makes it seem like an important part of the story.

 

Pages 48/49

 

The author uses the positioning technique of graphic weight throughout this section of the novel to create a contrast between Vladek and his Father showing there given personalities. Vladek’s father is shaded in a heavy black, which is portraying him to be the “bad guy” as he is starving his son on his own beliefs. Vladek is drawn in a white shade creating a high contrast between the two characters. The author does this to make the reader realise that this is Vladek’s father’s choice and Vladek does not agree with it, making him a victim. Another example of graphic weight is the use of bold, capital letters and size of the text when Vladek’s father is trying to wake him up. This draws the eyes of the reader to this part as the bold tone stands out on its background and brings the readers attention to what’s being said. Special effects lettering is another positioning technique used in this section of the novel as the used onomatopoeia to reinforce the impact of the sound being created by the gun. The author uses the background in the second frame on page 48 to give additional sub textual information to the reader showing that this scene is taking place at night.

 

Pages 50/51

In the second frame, Vladlek’s face is shaded because he is trying to hide in the grass so he won’t be shot by the bullets. The first and second frames are close ups of his face with the bullets shooting past. This positions us to feel sorry for him because he is still a real person with bullets flying past him. The third frame is an image looking through the scope of a gun that is aiming at the tree. This positions the reader to see what it is like to be in the war and aim a gun. The thought bubbles tell the reader how Vladek is feeling and that he is resistant to killing people. The narration is not included in the frame because he is reflecting on his experiences which positions the reader to understand that it is a memory in the past.

 

The graphic weight in the fifth frame communicates the regret Vladek has from when he killed the man and the difficulty of the situation. The nazis are holding their guns, looking down at Vladlek which communicates their power over him. The anthropomorphism of the nazis as cats shows the traditional role of the cat hunting the mouse which positions the reader better understand the relationship between Jewish people and the nazis.

 

In frame 10, the nazis are taller than Vladek which emphasises their power. The graphic weight of Vladek being shaded shows that the nazis think that they are more important because they are not shaded. 


Pages 58/59

Positioning techniques are used to show readers how unbearable and hard the camp was. Also how determined Vladek was to get through it. 

Low angles looking up at soldiers to make the Jews look smaller and the soldiers powerful.  

Mid shot to show the type of conditions and numbers of prisoners of war working 

Dark panel to show how important the dream was and to grab readers attention.

Positioning of heads show the prisoners whispered and had to be careful when talking to others

The text explains the work was too hard for some prisoners of war and few could manage the work. 

Special effects lettering used on the word FREE

 The diagram of the hill shows how hard the job was going to be.