Unit 2: Illusion

In this unit we discussed visual technologies in the forms of paintings, optical illusions, special effects, and digitization.  The text I chose to analyze was a bit different than the traditional forms of special effects and optical illusions that one might immediately jump to, such as science fiction films.  However, I think this text is extremely relevant especially because it is based on the film "A Trip to the Moon" which we watched in this unit. 
Watch the 1903 classic film, "A Trip to the Moon" by George Melies below.

The text I chose to analyze is the graphic novel, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick.  I had to read this book for the class "Words and Images" last semester and I fell in love with it.  The book has 284 pages of original drawings and combines elements of picture book, graphic novel, and film. "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" challenges not only traditional forms of graphic novels, but also films and how they use special effects. 

1.)  The book creates the illusion of an old fashioned moving picture show by displaying different hand drawn images on each page that can then be flipped through quickly to look like a moving picture.  Interspersed throughout the book is text and narratives to keep the story moving. The novel begins by showing different images from around Paris.  It then follows a young boy through a train station and up to his hiding place behind a clock.  The first actual words of the book aren't until page 46.  What is really incredible about this book is that how the images give the illusion of words.  Reading the words and viewing the images are interchangeable.  The images give just as much information as the words. 

2.)  "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" destabilizes reality through its use of images and effects.  While reading the book, the viewer gets the impression that they are watching a movie, only to be brought back to reality with the white pages with plain text.  It is easy to lose yourself reading this book and imagine that you are watching a film. 

3.) The combination of words and images in this text really brings together reality and illusion. After watching the film "A Trip to the Moon" I was really able to interpret the book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" better.  The book does a great job of adding in actual fact to a fictional book.  I dont want to give away too much of the synopsis because I hope you'll all read this (it's seriously an awesome book) but there is a connection between the film and the book that is depicted throughout the book in both words and images.  Many of the images from "A Trip to the Moon" such as the moon face with the rocket in the eye, are depicted throughout the book.  I think this combination of reality and illusion provides the reader with both a way to escape into a "movie" as well as a way to enjoy a written novel.  Using a real life with fictional characters (although there is one real-life characters in the novel) allows the reader two different ways to read the book.

If your interested in learning more about "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" you can find more at the official website :http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm