Date of Award

Summer 5-22-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Illustration

First Advisor

Leela Corman

Second Advisor

Catherine Huang

Third Advisor

Taylor Polites

Abstract

This thesis examines how the reading experience of comics changes when they are presented in various artist’s book formats, particularly through the lens of time and space. This project encourages the practice of close reading, arguing that the physical form of a book is not only a container for the content, but also plays a part in its meaning-making. It shifts the narrative pace, perception of time and reader engagement. Research in this paper is heavily influenced by scholars like Johanna Drucker, Scott McCloud and Will Eisner. This interdisciplinary, practice-led research combines narrative analysis of experimental comics, close reading of artist’s books and comics, analysis of various book forms, and crafting. The research is embodied in five artist’s books, each testing a different structure and its impact on, sequence, navigation, and time taken to interact with it. The findings demonstrate that artist’s book formats can significantly alter the reading experience of comics: some forms encourage rapidly navigating through the book, while others slow the reader down and require close, embodied engagement. This thesis contributes to broader conversations around slow reading, comic forms, and experimental narrative, encouraging readers to expand the time it takes to read a physical book and welcome the unpredictability of experimentation.

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