Narrative Space in Comics and Graphic Novels
Public support
Provider
Czech Science Foundation
Programme
Standard projects
Call for proposals
SGA0202600001
Main participants
Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci / Filozofická fakulta
Contest type
VS - Public tender
Contract ID
26-24091S
Alternative language
Project name in Czech
Narrative Space in Comics and Graphic Novels
Annotation in Czech
While both fans and scholars are accustomed to approaching characters and story with a critical eye, this book proposes both methods and reasons to look at the space – background, setting, frames, and reader space – of comics to better grasp the narrative. More than just a decorative background, this project argues that space plays an essential narrative role and communicates an epistemological stance in comic books. Comics Studies as a field has focused on examining the history of the format, creating narratological analyses of the fictional storytelling, describing the physical nature of comics production and the realities of the comics industry, and incorporating cultural studies or film studies theories into the study of comics and graphic novels, but these have been insufficient regarding narrative space. This project uses comic-based research methodology, phenomenological analysis of space, and narratology to study graphic spaces in comic books and their role in narrative, arguing for a new theoretical framework which is unique to the comics format.
Scientific branches
R&D category
ZV - Basic research
OECD FORD - main branch
60205 - Literary theory
OECD FORD - secondary branch
—
OECD FORD - another secondary branch
—
CEP - equivalent branches <br>(according to the <a href="http://www.vyzkum.cz/storage/att/E6EF7938F0E854BAE520AC119FB22E8D/Prevodnik_oboru_Frascati.pdf">converter</a>)
AJ - Literature, mass media, audio-visual activities
Solution timeline
Realization period - beginning
Jan 1, 2026
Realization period - end
Dec 31, 2028
Project status
Z - Beginning multi-year project
Latest support payment
—
Data delivery to CEP
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data delivery code
CEP26-GA0-GA-R
Data delivery date
May 7, 2026
Finance
Total approved costs
2,215 thou. CZK
Public financial support
2,215 thou. CZK
Other public sources
0 thou. CZK
Non public and foreign sources
0 thou. CZK