McCloud, "Show and Tell"

== Abstract ==
As the sixth chapter of Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics,” “Show and Tell” details the way in which visuals or icons have interacted with language in human expression, and vice versa. Starting from the beginnings of human writing, people began conveying a written language through icons and pictures. It was only with the development of this nonverbal communication that abstract words replaced these icon-based language, leaving word-based expression and visual-based expression to evolve in different directions. 
To demonstrate this, McCloud constructs as a triangle-shaped iconic abstraction chart in which the written word and artistic visual representations have progressed to different sides of the spectrum. Words have become more abstract to enhance meaning, which visuals have developed in their resemblance. However, in more modern developments, the two fields of expression are seeming to move toward a common ground. Visuals, under impressionism, abstract expressionism, and more, have become more iconic while writing has started to become more concise and simple, although not lacking in meaning. McCloud argues that “nowhere is this collision more thoroughly explored than the modern comic” and goes on to explain several examples in which comics can balance writing with visuals to create deeper meanings. 
== Critical Conversations: ==
Has been cited over 2000, 2943 times to be exact according to Google Scholar. And it has been cited across various topics involving art and comics or hidden meanings in other works.
== Further Readings ==
The Infinite Canvas – Scott McCloud coined the term, the infinite canvas, to convey the adaptation of comic makers to the Internet and modern technologies in exploring the seemingly infinite possibilities of expression and ways of expression for artists. 
“Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative” by Will Eisner – Eisner gives detailed instructions on comic making techniques and methods, and how to pair it with visually constructed narratives. 
Google Chrome Instructional – McCloud created this instructional for Google Chrome users in comic form.
CreativeComicArt.com – This website is an instructional platform for how people can create and publish comics, as well as a blog and social forum. 
Comixology.com – This is another online comic publishing platform from everything from Marvel and DC to indepedent comic makers. 
== Keywords ==
Sound engineering, space/place, writing, language, comic, McCloud's "Time Frames," McCloud's "The Vocabulary of Comics"
== Citations ==
 McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: [the Invisible Art]. New York: HarperPerennial, 1994. Print.