The resilient frame: Graphic narratives and crises representation

The chapter is guided by the hypothesis that the distinctive qualities of graphic narratives make them an especially powerful medium for representing and navigating crises. These qualities offer storytellers—whether they have experienced or witnessed trauma—and readers an opportunity to reclaim a voice that may have been silenced by such experiences. To explore this hypothesis, the chapter is structured in two parts. The first section introduces graphic narratives, briefly examining their formal features, such as the gutter, the interplay of text and image, and the visual representation of the body. The second section presents compelling examples from graphic literature to demonstrate how these formal elements uniquely enable graphic narratives to address the complexities of representing extreme experiences and negotiating crisis.