Kishōtenketsu and Creativity without Conflicts
How my new year resolution to know more about Manga took an unexpected direction.
Disclaimer
I’m NOT a Manga expert: I’m humbly trying to learn about this universe.
The following visuals, in a graphic novel format, are only some experimentation to learn how the elements and the structure of Manga works. I’m not trying to draw Manga and they should not be considered Manga attempts. They may have a slight look like Manga but they are not.
For the first time since when I started this newsletter, I have to warn you that this post has no “closure”, meaning that it is an open-ended work-in-progress. Consider it a “train of thought” I’d love to share with you.
Getting hooked on Manga
After a life of barely acknowledging its existence, I took a New Year Resolution to know more about Manga.
As usual, I asked a few friends for suggestions, then I started reading. And I kept reading, and reading and reading…
Why is that? I’m not an avid reader (at least not in the last few years), so why I found myself binge-reading chapter after chapter?
I discovered Kishōtenketsu
Even if there is a good quantity of documentation out there, it took me a while to start even to barely grasp the nuances and subtleties of Kishōtenketsu.
Kishōtenketsu is a 4 act narrative structure, typical of eastern storytelling, and its most evident aspect is the absence of conflict which is, on the other hand, typical in western narrative.
So far I have a lot of thoughts and reflections racing in my mind. I guess it’d be pointless or confusing to try to share/express what I’m thinking (mainly because it’d probably make sense just to myself).
Well, I’ll do it anyway.
I can say for sure that what I love about Kishōtenketsu is the smooth cause-effect flow, the twist that can be a groundbreaking conflict but it is not necessarily the primary focus of the story, it is only a part of the whole story which unravel, instead, around life and people and details close and (sometimes) dear to the reader.
In Kishōtenketsu narrative, collaboration wins over individualism, the community is the primary focus of the hero/protagonist who care about the people first, then, fights the enemy/evil.
I started reading and watching video about Manga Artists creative process and this came to my mind.
A Creative Process is like telling a story with your hands, your heart and your mind
Conflict —> Struggle/Epic Fight —> Resolution
Is that right? It’s “just like that”?
There is always another side of the story
While I was thinking about this I picked up (once again) one of the most amazing books I have: UNFLATTENING by Nick Sousanis .
Now you can understand where the inspiration to try to draw the visuals for this newsletter in a graphic novel format, rather than my usual sketchnote style, comes from.
The most important thing is that my attention was almost immediately caught by this page.
In case you are reading on a small screen, I type here the quote from Italo Calvino.
“Whenever the Humanity seems condemned to heaviness, I think I should fly like Perseus into a different space. I don’t mean escaping into dreams or into the irrational. I mean that I have to change my approach, look at the World from a different perspective, with a different logic and with fresh methods of cognition and verification.”
Nick’s addition on the opposite page is equally, if not more, mind blowing.
It was one of those moment of sharp clarity: “yes, yes! That’s it.”, I thought.
… Look at the World from a different perspective, with a different logic…
Ok, I guess you are a bit confused but I’m confident you’ll get there.
I have reached this point, so far. I didn't get here directly, I went through rounds of thoughts and research. You might be thinking, 'Is that all?' and I understand. But I assure you that this has opened a door to a universe of different perspectives that I will certainly explore.
I hope you enjoyed the unusual format and you found a few things that made you think.
Let me know in the comments.
A few links you may find interesting
Investigating Storytelling Differences Between Western and Eastern Computer Animation : a relatively recent (Jan 2023) paper that explain clearly how Kishōtenketsu work in comparison to western narrative structure. Not some boring and complex academic stuff, trust me, it’s a nice read.
Hokusai: the father of manga? : Yes, “that” Hokusai who painted the Great Wave.
You probably already know about The Etherington Brothers. Robin and Lorenzo Etherington are British comic, book and film creators. They are the authors of the world's most successful art books of all time on Kickstarter: How to Think When You Draw. They also created the free online series of tutorials How to Think When You Draw A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!
The Secret Life of Machines is a “retro” website where you can find a series of cartoons that match the TV series 'The Secret Life Of Machines' written by Tim Hunkin, and presented by Tim Hunkin and Rex Garrod. So enjoyable and refreshing!
Plus, do not forget to visit Hunkin's Experiments. A lot of cartoons (now we call them sketchnotes) explaining simple experiments. From the website:
”Find the trick experiment. All the experiments can be made to work, except for one trick experiment.”
If you like this newsletter, please consider to Like, Share and do not forget to leave a comment or chat with me and other Creative Minds in the app.
Until next time, CIAO!
This is fascinating, Mauro! I love all forms of storytelling and totally enjoy reading your thoughts on manga and Kishōtenketsu, plus seeing your visual stories and panel layouts. Stunning!!! Also, very much appreciate the UNFLATTENING influence — a favorite. 🤩 Thanks as always for your newsletter, and also the links.
As always, your passionate approach to learning and creativity is inspiring and impressive. I want to learn more about Manga too so I can be more like you.