Spatiotemporal modality in Here, by McGuire: intermedial connections between graphic novel and architecture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34629/rcdmt.vol.2.n.1.pp77-90Keywords:
Intermediality, Spatiotemporal modality, Graphic novel, Architecture, Richard McGuireAbstract
Time is one of the most enduring themes in art, explored not as an abstract concept but through its profound effects on human existence. In Richard McGuire’s graphic novel Here (2017), time intersects with space to emerge as a narrative force, as a narrator-character. McGuire’s work defies conventional spatiotemporal logic, blending intermedial studies with perspective, under the light of architecture. The narrative unfolds through layered temporalities presented within static frames, reflecting a nonlinear storytelling approach. This visual complexity resonates with Lars Elleström’s modalities (2021), highlighting how the graphic novel uniquely transmediates temporal and spatial dimensions. Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to discuss how the narrator shows itself as a camera fixed by time, while the corner of a house’s living room becomes a character-witness throughout history. Besides, the essay explores the material and sensorial modalities of Here, considering its intermedial relations to cinematic and technological paradigms. By situating Here at the intersection of graphic novels, architecture, and time, we also argue that McGuire's innovative use of static space and dynamic temporality redefines narrative possibilities in sequential art.
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