The Beautiful Ambiguity of Blankets Anonymous College

"The Beautiful Ambiguity of Blankets: Comics Representation and Religious Art", written by the University of Florida's Benjamin Stevens, provides a great deal of insight into Craig Thompson's 2003 autobiographical graphic novel Blankets. Stevens' analysis focuses on characteristics of the novel such as style, the search for identity, the impact of Christianity, and the details within the actual illustrations. This provides the reader with a deeper understanding of the content and the significance behind Thompson’s work.

Thompson’s combination of illustration and dialogue is notable. Stevens’ investigation of the work stresses this fact, noting “the visual and material sameness of 'image' and 'text' or 'word’” (Stevens 6). The ability to use both text and a direct form of visual aid is not typical for a novel, but they allow Thompson to go into greater detail regarding Craig’s home life, childhood, search for himself, and his inner conflict regarding his faith. An interesting characteristic of this graphic novel is the fact that no two pages look alike. There is not a set number of panels or words assigned, allowing the author freedom to fully express himself through his work: “Even on...