1. Evaluation
Image ConstructionTo create most of my images, I drew them out, scanned them into the computer and
edited them on photoshop. Although, because I changed some of my design ideas, I
had to create images on photoshop using the polygonal lasso tool(1). I think using the
Polygonal lasso tool was more effective than drawing my images out as it made a
much darker line, it got rid of the issue of having to delete all the white from the
Paper, and it also meant I could also mess around with the outline of the image to
make it as large, small or messy as I needed it to be. A lot of my images I have used
look scribbled and rough, with different thickness’ through the lines to make it seem
more confused.
Instead of using a block colour, I used patterns and textures(2) for my images to create
a collage type of effect. I think this was fairly effective as it was more interesting to
look at than just a block colour, and also added a more surreal vibe to the story. The
downside to using this technique is that it can over crowd the image, making it look
too messy. Where using a pattern or a texture was most effective was in the text
boxes.
For these I used tea stained paper(3). This pattern doesn’t look too fussy to draw
attention away from the text, but it still gives my text boxes a more interesting, old and
worn look.
3. Production ProcessesMy first step in the production process was to draw out all my designs. I tried to split up all
my images in to as many little bits as possible to allow me to play around with them as much
as I could on photoshop. I scanned these into the computer and edited them on photoshop first.
Then I needed to take pictures of different patterns and textures to create the collage effect. I
ended up only using about half of my own images, some of the images I used I got from google.
I
then put together my drawings and my images to create almost finished images. I realized when
I arranged my collage fully that the outlines from my drawings where too light, and there was
too much white still, so I used the polygonal lasso tool to create a messy black outline over my
drawings. I also used this black outline on the boarders for all my images and my text boxes. This
technique improved the look of it a lot. I put all my finished images onto the storyboard as I
didn’t create my images straight onto it. Finally I created my text boxes and wrote my text.
4. AnchorageThroughout my story, right up until the last two pages, text has been used to simply describe
exactly what is happening in the image next to it. Then in the last image on page 5 with the hill
opening and the fairies flying around, there is no text to go with it. Page 6 is all text which
describes the process of the hill opening in detail, so it is as if we skip a bit with page 5 and jump
back to it on page 6. I could have put the page of text before that final image, but I thought it
would be effective if I decided to follow on from the story in another issue, it would flow nicely
just carrying on from exactly where it left off with the text.
5. SignificationOn the front cover I have used an image of a gold chestnut incased in its spiky shell(4). This
image of the opening chestnut itself was used to represent the opening of the hill at the end.
The colour gold used for the chestnut was also used to help represent that scene. The reason I
chose a chestnut was because in the full story Kate cracks nuts with the prince when he is
well, as well as the fact the story is called “Kate Crackernuts”. I chose black and gold for the
colours of the chestnut to reflect how surreal the story is. The gold I used was taken from an
image of some thin gold sheet to fit in with the collage style running through my story.
On my first page the text I have used seems to reflect how normal things are at that time(5).
Each line is in line with the next and I have used full stops and capital letters in the correct
places. Then when I move onto page two there are random capital letters and random
punctuation(6). This is to represent everything beginning to change and go strange. Another
technique I have used to show things being strange is through the distortion on my images. On
page 1 I have an image of a clock facing forward looking normal(7). Then on page two I have a
larger image of the same clock at a tilted angle, and looking slightly distorted(8). On my first
page I have also used colour to show the difference in class. Kate is dressed in a dark brown that
blends into the wall(9), where as the prince is in bed under gold and red coloured sheets(10).
Although Kate comes from a Queen, she ran away with Anne away from that life. She also isn’t
addressed with a royal title like Princess, it is just Kate. As the dress blends in with the wall, it
shows how she is owned by the Princes family as she is only getting money and shelter from
them, so she may as well be one of their possessions, like the wall in the Prince’s room. In
comparison, the gold in the sheets shows how rich the Prince must be.
6. On page 5 of my story I have used many different bright colours such as a colourful starry sky
and colourful planets, a bright green grass hill pink dresses for the fairies and gold inside the
hill(11). The vibrant colours are used to reflect excitement of the Prince and Kate, but also the
fairies attending the party inside the hill. It also reflects the anti realism of the situation, where
the Prince asks the hill to open, and it does. I could compare this to at the start of the story
when they are in the Prince’s castle, where all the colours are dull to show how boring it
was(12).
Another technique I have used to reflect the anti realism is through shape. I have created
images of planets and stars to go over my realistic night sky image(13). All of the planets and
stars are a lot larger than in real life, making it look even more unusual.
My final page is majority text. The text is quite sparsely laid out(14). The placing of all my text on
this page allows the reader to slow down their reading, showing that the story is coming to a
stop.
I have used an image of a drum being hit to tie in with the story(15). Though in this image I
haven’t used too much of a collage effect with only a splash of colour, also showing that the
story is fading out. I used a gold splash on the point where the drum stick hits the drum to
reflect the colour from inside the hill, and the splash to show that the music is really loud and
alive.
I have repeated the colour gold throughout the story to show wealth, vibrancy and decadence.
In the story Kate is also told she can have silver, then gold if she stays up and looks after the
Prince while he is sick.
8. RepresentationThe story I have chosen represents women as being brave. In the full story the narrator calls
Kate “a brave girl”. The full story also shows her performing brave acts such as running away
with Anne to get her help for her disfigured face, and taking care of the Prince even though she
is told of the fate of many who have. It also shows that in folk and fairy tales, women don’t have
to be just Princesses. Despite Kates background, she is still just called Kate.
Historical and Cultural ContextThe story of Kate Crackernuts itself seems like a fairly new concept due to the gender role
swap, when in fact it was created in 1889.
I have looked at the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, written in 1812, following a very
similar concept to Kate Crackernuts. The story is of twelve princesses who all go to sleep and
wake up each morning with their dancing shoes looking worn as though they had been dancing
all night. Though in this story it is a man who is to find out why each girls shoes seem worn. The
story is much more classic to its time, where the gender roles are very stereotypical and the
father gives away the daughter to any man who proves himself and helps him solve the mystery.
Where as in Kate Crackernuts, the father of the Prince asks the Princess for help, and Kate is the
one being described as brave, which is more stereotypical of male characters.
