Animation et bande-dessinée

The higher we rise the greater our need for advice.

The text is a comic by Grant Snider published in 2022 titled “higher purpose” describes the humans urge to find the meaning of life. Through the combination of language and visuals, Snider communicates humans search for a purpose in life that leads to the realisation of their insignificance in the vast universe.

The language used in eight panels describe his search for an existential meaning and the realisation of his insignificance. In the first panel, he expresses his difficulty to remain content. He is not satisfied from his actual situation. Endowed with curiosity, He is constantly “seeking for a higher purpose”. Then in different panels he describes this search for “hidden meaning”, “chances to be daring,” “insight” and “balance” as he continues his exploration. In the last 2 panel he says “the more I seek, the more I sense… my cosmic insignificance”. The use of ellipsis increases the tension with a pause of silence before the punchline where he expresses his fear and disappointment. Throughout the creative use of language, the artist highlights the idea of immensity of universe frightens him and gives rise to his sense of insignificance.

The deliberate choice of visuals design and colour in each frame emphasizes the idea of search for higher purpose and the unavoidable disillusionment.  The use of white colour for the first 4 panels shows the first steps made for the search of life’s purpose. However, the appearance of the colours for the last 4 panels shows that the more he moves higher, the more he discovers the complexity of the answer for the true meaning of the existence, thus, the realisation of the cosmic insignificance. His research for a higher purpose is showed as the person climbs up a ladder higher and higher in each frame conveying the idea of progression. The presence of the space between person and the boundary of the panel accentuates the idea of seeking for a higher purpose until his realisation of his insignificance in the last panel where he touches the boundary of the frame. This marks the end of his exploration as he is pervaded by disappointment.

The visual representation of the person and his actions communicates the artists message of seeking for higher meaning of existence but the realisation of its futility. The person is not represented in detail and has a tiny space compared to the other visual features in the frame. his facial expressions are deliberately invisible highlighting the insignificance of human finite life compared to the infinite space in the universe. In the first panel, he is slouching as he is playing with a yo-yo. His posture and the repetition of his movement highlight the idea of motionlessness and his dissatisfaction. In the third panel, he is searching in the books for a meaning showing the power of literature. The ladder made of books, chair symbolises the knowledge that builds up and the constant climb and search for a higher purpose throughout the life. As his search begins, the person is in a constant movement as he is looking, reading, climbing, meditating taking risk… Until the last frame where he returns to his initial position of stillness with the same posture and the yo-yo. This highlights his realisation of the pointlessness of his search for a true meaning of existence.

...