Date of Submission

Spring 2024

Academic Program

Studio Arts; Written Arts

Project Advisor 1

John Burns

Project Advisor 2

Nayland Blake

Abstract/Artist's Statement

This project is only one of many that I’ve planned to make for some time. Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to publish stories. I would make nonexistent, fantasy worlds with a huge character cast to accompany them. Being influenced by the media around me, especially with the introduction of the world of manga and anime when I was just starting middle school, has further fueled my desire to make narratives of my own. Of course, with all of the stories I want to create, I could only choose one to focus on for my Senior Project. But which one would be the best to showcase as a reflection of my progress?

Funny enough, the story I decided to settle on was one of the more recent ones I planned. Inspired by a specific game named Danganronpa, I was in awe of the diverse character designs and the drastic differences in their personalities. Each character had their own uniqueness to them, which made all of them memorable in their own way. I too wanted to create a story with not only a large amount of characters, but also allowing them to shine in their own way. Perhaps it stems from my own interests in media; when I start a show or a series, I find that I am drawn to the cast more than the plot of the story. I usually rely on my admiration for at least one specific character to continue a show to its end. I am still trying to figure out why I feel so attached to the characters, and I think I’d be content even if I never found out. I do know for certain that it does bring me joy. I’ve always been a simple person when it comes to enjoying things.

I can say with certainty that the completion of this project, however, was far from simple. For the first time, I needed to see a story from start to finish. I felt that the story ideas I had conjured up in my younger years were a bit too complex for a senior project; the plot for these stories mostly relied on worldbuilding, and I did not want to swamp readers with all of that information. I felt that the best story to share as a means of my “pilot” as an illustrated narrative artist, was one that I had thought of during my time at Bard College. In other words, the project before your eyes is the most recent story concept I’ve created: a serial killer and a detective working together to apprehend other criminals. My reasoning for deciding to focus on this one is as such: this is the first time that I’ve fully committed to the story creation process. With everything I have learned in both the Written Arts department and the Studio Arts department, combining my newfound knowledge along with this recent story idea was the best choice to represent my growth as both a writer and an artist.

Choosing to showcase my understanding of the arts through manga, my decision has multiple layers as to why I settled on this medium. I have always been inspired by manga and its visual storytelling. The younger version of me would be appalled to see how far I’ve come in my writing and drawing journey. Here’s to the start of the journey, and for the future mangas to come.

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