Komiks : The Second Cycle?
Komiks : The Second Cycle?
Innovation is a function of observation, comprehension and analysis. Take away this process, we are simply doing what a xerox machine is doing, copying. Plagiarism, in terms of content and context, will only lead to creative bankruptcy. I other words, it is not wise to encourage Filipino Artists and Writers to just simply read a Marvel Comic Book or a popular Manga and then mimic the whole thing. It not a sin to appreciate the product of other cultures but when appreciation becomes an accessory to a crime of plagiarism, I mean, that is a different story.
The first cycle of Komiks started as a means to entertain people. English literacy during those years was very low. That is why Komiks, at its early stage, gained so much ground. But as more and more people became well versed with the colonial language, things changed as soon as American Comic Books arrived in our shores.
Often we hear the argument that radio, television and cinema killed Komiks. Others would say that the decline of the reading public was the caused of the demise of Komiks. I do not subscribe to these arguments. I see them as poor excuses and desperate desires to find an escape goat in order to cover the industry's failure to innovate and evolve. In fact, if you study early Komiks, less than ten percent are really telling real stories. And often, one is able to find real stories in Komiks that uses Horror as a genre.
This generation, stuck with Japanese Mangas and American Comic Books, is unaware that Komiks is a viable framework for international deployment. It has a unique format that has the capability to capture a market. Komiks, in particular Pinoy Horror Komiks, is inherently pinoy that draws creative materials from myths and legends. Yet fear, as a universal value, is appealing to a wide variety of cultures. These are two ingredients that made American Comics and Japanese Manga popular in the world market.
In the end, concept art must work hand in hand with the story, characters, genre and plot. If we just believe that "nasa drawing lang yan", again, we are making the same mistake of the previous cycle. Majority of Komiks Creators in the First Cycle thought that their inherent language advantage would sustain their creations. So, they did not bother to innovate and invest in terms of materials and art works. Instead, they just mimic what was American. As a result, they are now fossilized remains of a wasted opportunity.
The second cycle is moving towards globalization. But, unfortunately, our industry does not exist. Is this a bad thing? Not really, though it is far more difficult for us to compete considering that there is no Komiks Industry to speak of, at least we have the opportunity to re-invent or invent the industry in order for it to be competitive.
Now, do we need to abandon this Manga or Americam Comic Obsession? Let me put it this way, the said products are useful study materials. We can learn a lot from them. But the knowledge that we get from the said products must fuel our desire to construct our own unique industry that will produce unique products. Not patches of elements that looks like Frankenstein, products that we often see in our local bookstores.
Innovation is a function of observation, comprehension and analysis. Take away this process, we are simply doing what a xerox machine is doing, copying. Plagiarism, in terms of content and context, will only lead to creative bankruptcy. I other words, it is not wise to encourage Filipino Artists and Writers to just simply read a Marvel Comic Book or a popular Manga and then mimic the whole thing. It not a sin to appreciate the product of other cultures but when appreciation becomes an accessory to a crime of plagiarism, I mean, that is a different story.
The first cycle of Komiks started as a means to entertain people. English literacy during those years was very low. That is why Komiks, at its early stage, gained so much ground. But as more and more people became well versed with the colonial language, things changed as soon as American Comic Books arrived in our shores.
Often we hear the argument that radio, television and cinema killed Komiks. Others would say that the decline of the reading public was the caused of the demise of Komiks. I do not subscribe to these arguments. I see them as poor excuses and desperate desires to find an escape goat in order to cover the industry's failure to innovate and evolve. In fact, if you study early Komiks, less than ten percent are really telling real stories. And often, one is able to find real stories in Komiks that uses Horror as a genre.
This generation, stuck with Japanese Mangas and American Comic Books, is unaware that Komiks is a viable framework for international deployment. It has a unique format that has the capability to capture a market. Komiks, in particular Pinoy Horror Komiks, is inherently pinoy that draws creative materials from myths and legends. Yet fear, as a universal value, is appealing to a wide variety of cultures. These are two ingredients that made American Comics and Japanese Manga popular in the world market.
In the end, concept art must work hand in hand with the story, characters, genre and plot. If we just believe that "nasa drawing lang yan", again, we are making the same mistake of the previous cycle. Majority of Komiks Creators in the First Cycle thought that their inherent language advantage would sustain their creations. So, they did not bother to innovate and invest in terms of materials and art works. Instead, they just mimic what was American. As a result, they are now fossilized remains of a wasted opportunity.
The second cycle is moving towards globalization. But, unfortunately, our industry does not exist. Is this a bad thing? Not really, though it is far more difficult for us to compete considering that there is no Komiks Industry to speak of, at least we have the opportunity to re-invent or invent the industry in order for it to be competitive.
Now, do we need to abandon this Manga or Americam Comic Obsession? Let me put it this way, the said products are useful study materials. We can learn a lot from them. But the knowledge that we get from the said products must fuel our desire to construct our own unique industry that will produce unique products. Not patches of elements that looks like Frankenstein, products that we often see in our local bookstores.
posted by cadaver_lover | 1:26 AM
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