This research delves into questions of co-reference: knowing that two things are the same object/figure. Co-reference is vital for creating a coherent, logical story.

See the two images on this page: To understand these as part of one story, readers must relate the figures and events together logically.

How do we recognize the environment is the same or different? How do we know that this is the same person, despite the differences in appearance? And how do we unite these two actions into a flowing narrative, occurring across time & space? These questions may seem easy, but research has shown that people not familiar with visual stories struggle to make these connections. It seems you have to learn certain ‘rules’ to understand comic narratives. 

My publications dive into these ‘rules’ that guide how readers understand co-reference, and how published comics actually show patterns of co-referential information.