The Arrival by Shaun Tan

The Arrival by Shaun Tan is a graphic narrative that doesn't contain words or any kind of explanations, but the story is still totally clear and easy to read. I think it works so well because all the pictures show the same action, but unlike comic books with words, this comic book shows us parts of it in small details. All the pictures are like frames from a shot in the movie. As an example at the beginning we see frame standing on the wall, then someone picks it up and starts wrapping it in a paper, puts it in the suitcase and locks it. 

Another thing that makes everything clear is keeping the eye line. Comic contains a lot of great examples of eye line that helps a reader understand what is the character looking at. Also, I think the fact that pictures change from close up picture to a wider picture to show the whole picture, but at the same time make us aware of details. Like when the main character arrives at the city and there's somewhat like a crane shot type of composition used to show the main square. But the next page shows some people who work and mind their own business in some way it helps us understand that this world is different. But we don't know if it's normal to the main character because we don't know much about the world he is from. But then illustrator is showing us his reaction to this new world, he looks confused and he doesn't even know how to tell time using the local clock.


Another thing that I really like, is how illustrator uses a different frame of the picture to separate memories stories, citizens tell to the main character. He uses a picture frame, and, an interesting detail is that some of the pictures' edges are even fractured to create a feeling of an old paper picture is presented on. Which helps to create a feeling of the story or a memory