Exploring William Moebius Article Introduction to...

William Moebius writes in his article Introduction to Picture Book Codes about the several ways one can use to interpret the apparent relationship between the text of a Picture Book and its Pictures. He indicates that there are five different distinct codes to use when analyzing the text as well as the images. Those codes are: the code of position, size, and diminishing return, the codes of perspective, the code of the frame and the right and round, the code of line and capillarity, and the code of colour. Each code speaks of a different aspect of the image and how it relates to psychology behind the implied meaning. These methods come together in Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Each page is filled with evidence†¦show more content†¦On the other hand, if the lines are fuzzy and further apart they indicate emotions of calmness and clarity. Maurice Sendak uses cross-hatching as his method of shading throughout the story. Early in the story the lines are ver y close together leave little to the imagination. The lines on the bed spread are close together and there is cross-hatching on Maxs face as he is scowling. This indicates the anger Max is feeling by being sent to his room as a form of punishment. in the scenes where the bedroom starts to turn into the jungle, the lines become further apart and fuzzy. This was done to give a sense that Max is switching from anger to happiness as his world begins to open up before his eyes. Also when he is smiling, the cross-hatching is nearly gone. This frees up Maxs face and gives the reader a brighter, more cheerful depiction of Max. In the code of colour Moebius talks about the use of color to express emotion within the pictures. For instance, the traditional psychology behind certain colors convey certain emotions. The darker color pallet is often associated with disappointment and confusion; while the brighter side of the spectrum lends a more optimistic or discovery filled view of the world. In the beginning of Where The Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak sticks with a bright color pallet of soft beige and greens. This gives the reader a sense that Max is comfortable with his surroundings. The color is also less shaded by the