Lecture Notes: Analyzing Multimodal Texts - "French Milk"

Introduction

• Video lesson on multimodal texts, focusing on "French Milk."
• Guided annotation of the text.
• Importance of having read and annotated the text beforehand.

Splash Page Analysis

• Definition: Splash page - full-page image with text, common in comic books.
• Intertextuality: References to Tintin, showcasing admiration for comic art.
• Text Format:
  • Diary entry style, capitalized lettering, occasional lowercase for idiosyncratic style.
  • Use of initials for paragraph separation and to guide reader’s eye.

Language and Style

• Sentence Structure:
  • Omission of subject (e.g., "Started off the day...").
  • Personal diary style assumes familiarity of subject.
• Use of Hyperbole: "Incredibly," "gorgeous," and idioms to express passion and authority.
• Subjectivity and Authority: Balancing personal opinion with authority on comics.

Visual and Linguistic Features

• Parallel Constructions: Rhetorical functions to emphasize skills or qualities.
• Emanata: Symbols around characters’ heads to convey emotion or style.
• Semantic Fields: Language linked to art and comics (e.g., "drawings," "exhibits").

Text Structure and Presentation

• Mixed Modes: Photographic and comic panels.
• Direct Speech Representation: Using play script conventions.
• Conversational Analysis: Pragmatic tools to analyze spoken discourse.

Parisian Setting and Personal Reflection

• First-Person Perspective: Evocative Parisian imagery.
• Sensory Imagery: Visual and linguistic details (e.g., cobblestones).
• Temporal and Spatial Deixis: Establishing a narrative journey.

Relationship Dynamics

• Self-Representation: Exploration of relationships with boyfriend and mother.
• Language of Conflict:
  • Euphemistic language ("pretty upset").
  • Precise emotive language reflecting feelings ("condescending," "rebuking").
• Rhetorical Features: Use of litotes and rhetorical questions.

Personal and Intimate Details

• Daily Reflections: General reflections deviating from diary format.
• Typographic Features:
  • Idiomatic expressions and distinctive typography.
  • Representation of fragmented and uncooperative conversations.

Creative Language and Humour

• Juvenile Register: Informal language reflecting naivety.
• Visual Imagery: Panels depicting relationships and settings.
• Intertextuality: Shopping list as a non-fiction genre representation.

Passion for Literature and Comics

• Juxtaposition of Themes: Combining personal memories with Parisian setting.
• Hyperbolic Register: Passion conveyed through informal spoken features.
• Proper Nouns and Allusions: References to literary figures and comics community.

Conclusion

• Cultural Allusions: Mixing highbrow and popular culture.
• Idiosyncratic Language: Creative expressions (e.g., "deelish"), reflecting personal style.
• Invitation to engage with more content and provide feedback for improvement.