Seth Gullion's Thesis Proposal: Take Two

Here's the latest version of my proposal. It may have gotten more wordy, but the words are STRONGER! ... I feel as if some of it is superfluous, but at the moment it I think it does a decent job of explaining what I see in my scattered thoughts. You may notice that I seem to have nothing really substantial concerning emoticons and the topic at large just yet... Which is because I'm only just starting to gather my initial research. I have a pile of interesting factoids right now, but nothing truly profound to say about them right now. That shall be remedied in short order. Also, I'm waiting on a few potential advisers' responses to some e-mails before I update the 'confirmed advisers' section... which has me slightly on edge. I'm probably just overreacting, however. o_O;;

See, I used one! ^ Right up there! Is it an upper and lower case 'O' with some random punctuation, or a nervous face with beads of sweat forming on the brow? That's interesting, right? That's worthy of a project, yes? AAAIIIIGGHH!!!

And now, in all seriousness, the proposal (please format...):

Mid-Term Thesis Project Proposal (Draft 2)
By Seth Gullion

I. Tentative Title: Webcomic Project
II. Abstract: This project will examine the use of emoticons and other symbols in written language, primarily in online communities and communications such as instant messaging, forums, and chat rooms. Several questions concerning this phenomenon will be posed by characters in a narrative format, posing and attempting to answer some of these inquiries as their story unfolds. The story will be told in webcomic format, with animations, audio components, and other features. In the end, the story will allow the audience to look at how symbols and icons are used in language in a new way, and generate interest as to how written language, pictures, and storytelling are evolving. A secondary goal of the project will be to question traditional methods of presenting information in scholarly ways, and attempt to create an experience that is simultaneously entertaining and intellectually stimulating.
III. Description:
1. Definition of the Project:
A. Genre: Narrative, with documentary and argumentative elements throughout.
B. Research Methodology: The story will analyze multiple perspectives concerning the topic, synthesize pre-existing ideas and expand upon them,
C. Delivery Format: The project will exist as a website, including the story and a space for the audience to comment and discuss its contents.
2. Articulation of Project Goals: As a creative writing major, the most important goal will be for the narrative to be interesting and entertaining. This project will be capable of standing alone as an interesting read, with compelling characters, humor, and evident care apparent in the artwork. The success of the project will depend on my abilities as a storyteller first and foremost: dedication and pride in its crafting will be what separates it from a standard 50 page thesis paper. My greatest goal is to create a visually interesting work of art capable of being taken seriously as academically valid. Of course, in order for this to be accomplished, the topic I’ve chosen must be diligently researched. In something so seemingly trivial as emoticons in an instant message conversation, there lies a form of communication that is simultaneously ancient and new, and can offer insight into how the human mind functions. This project will make the audience take a step back and think about how we form meaning out of seemingly nonsensical lines and symbols. If I can get a handful of readers to think about text, images, sound, and color differently, the project will be a success.
3. Project’s Significance within Contemporary Scholarship: I see this project primarily as being a tool for thinking differently about storytelling, language, and communication. One of this project’s greatest inspirations, Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, essentially a textbook in comic form, while recognized as an important work, is essentially still a rarity in academia. The number of scholarly works in a format other than simple text is astoundingly small; the number that exist in an electronic format is even smaller. The tools available to students and teachers today are astounding in their power and potential: this project will be another step in a new direction for scholarship. It takes a great deal of discipline for me to sit down and slog through endless pages of text, especially if the subject matter does not strike me as particularly interesting, and yet when presented with a thick graphic novel I happily devour page after page. If we all learn in different ways, then surely alternatives to essays and textbooks could prove just as effective an academic tool? As for the topic of the project’s focus, there is a wealth of information on the significance and evolution of symbols and icons in society; the story I will construct will examine this information, and through the protagonist’s journey several questions will emerge. Is text the ultimate form of communication? Are pictures truly worth a thousand words, or do they simply complicate efforts to express meaning? Are icons the closest thing we have to a universal language? Questions such as these are important to students, teachers, advertisers, and society at large.
IV. Timeline: By the end of this semester, I will have prototype pages of the introductory sequence of the story. The main characters are already conceptualized: final sketches, and rough storyboards will be complete by the start of the 2008 spring semester. During the spring semester the bulk of my research will be completed, as well as learning how to create a website. Over the summer I will continue to gain mastery of the programs required of the project. Finally, senior year will see the creation of the comic, in full glorious color, from final storyboarding and animatics to posting the finished product online.
V. Budget: Outside of the labs, I already own Flash 8, so the only foreseeable things I would need to spend additional money on would be Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator if I wanted to work on them when I do not have access to the labs, and space for the website when the project is near completion. At the moment, I cannot place an estimate, but seeing as how money is certainly a precious resource for me, I would like to attempt to spend as little money as I can manage while still making a compelling project.
VI. To be updated soon.
VII. Presentation Distribution Plans: I will provide a link to the project on several of the online communities I regularly visit, and present the project to as many people that I can manage. Hopefully a stream of curious readers will spread a good word, encouraging more traffic to the site. Periodic updates will encourage readers to return for more, an aspect of online comics that is particularly effective, especially if the material is compelling.
VIII. Prior Related Work: Many short stories for my writing workshop classes have gone over very well; my potential as a storyteller is certainly there. My solo performance monologue under the instruction of Eric Trules also comes to mind when considering my past attempts at telling a story. However, not since I was a little boy have I attempted to construct a stand alone comic book, and this will be my first foray into the realm of webcomics. Intimidating? Perhaps. Exciting? Most certainly.
IX. I’ll be using material from Scott McCloud’s Understanding Comics, and Will Eisner’s Comics and Sequential Art. Many more sources, concerning icons, symbols, and the evolution of written language, will of course come into play once research begins in earnest. However, I must first understand my chosen primary medium, and the above works are proving invaluable.