Pure Duration - The Representation of Time and Memory in the Comics of Chris Ware

Comics have recently been afforded with an increased sense of value by the literary world. This thesis investigates the contribution of Chris Ware to the evolution of the genre, examining the ways in which a new readership for comics has been created in and through his work. The thesis discusses the unique ways in which Ware succeeds in communicating with this audience, focusing on the techniques he employs to explore complex and multifaceted themes, such as time, memory and their facets - childhood, nostalgia and relationships. Through an analysis of three of Ware’s comics, notably Quimby the Mouse, Jimmy Corrigan and Building Stories, Ware’s technical and emotional language is deconstructed as an analysis of individual design elements such as layout, format, typography and iconography is conducted. Henri Bergson’s theory of Pure Duration provides the theoretical underpinnings for this investigation.