Increasing Understanding of Introverts Through Black and White Japanese Manga-Style Comic ‘Kalut’
Increasing Understanding of Introverts Through Black and White Japanese Manga-Style Comic ‘Kalut’
Faculty of Letters
Visual communication design
October 23, 2024
Learning and Students, Student Learning and Activities
SDG 9
Kalut is a work produced by KONA Studio, a creative studio formed by seven students from Universitas Negeri Malang, including me, with the aim of raising public awareness of social issues through visual media. In designing this comic, KONA Studio raises the theme of social anxiety and introverted personality with a visual approach in the style of black and white Japanese manga. This comic aims to invite the public to better understand and respond to introverted nature and issues related to social anxiety in a deep and empathetic way.
The Kalut comic is based on the reality that many people with introverted personalities or who suffer from social anxiety disorders are often difficult to accept and understand by their surroundings. They are often considered strange or difficult to get along with, even though introversion and social anxiety are part of the personality spectrum that has its own values and challenges. Lack of understanding about this can cause introverted individuals to feel isolated and unsupported.
Through comics, Kalut tries to provide a deeper insight into the lives and feelings of introverted characters who often struggle with social anxiety. The black and white style typical of Japanese manga was chosen as a visual approach because it is able to present a dramatic and emotional atmosphere, so that the message conveyed can be deeper and easily absorbed by the reader. Kalut’s story focuses on the main character named Arka, an introverted young man who always feels anxious in social interactions. Arka is described as someone who tends to be quiet, introspective, and has many doubts in living his daily life. In various situations, he often feels uncomfortable and tends to withdraw because of fear of other people’s judgment.
Along the storyline, readers are invited to understand Arka’s journey in overcoming social anxiety and his own discomfort. Accompanied by several friends who support him, Arka slowly learns to understand that being an introvert is not a weakness, and that social anxiety is something that can be overcome with the support and understanding of those closest to him. Through Arka’s character journey, Kalut tries to convey the message that every individual has uniqueness and a different way of dealing with life’s challenges, including in terms of social interaction. This story invites readers to be more empathetic towards individuals who have an introverted nature and encourages society to be wiser in responding to personality differences.
The black and white Japanese manga style was chosen as the main visual approach because it is considered capable of displaying character expressions more intensely and emotionally. This style allows for in-depth exploration of details on the character’s face and movements, so that readers can feel the emotions and inner conflicts experienced by Arka. The choice of black and white also provides a nuance that matches the Kalut theme which focuses on social anxiety and isolation. The black and white contrast is able to present a dark and stressful atmosphere felt by introverted individuals in certain social situations. With this strong visual, readers are expected to be able to better understand and feel what people with social anxiety experience.
Through the Kalut comic, it is hoped that the public can better understand the nature of introverts and the impact of social anxiety. It is hoped that this comic will not only be entertainment, but also an effective educational tool to build empathy. For individuals who may experience similar things, this comic is expected to provide a sense of understanding and encouragement that they are not alone and that there are ways to overcome this challenge. In addition, KONA Studio hopes that this work can inspire readers to be wiser in judging others based on their personalities. With this increased understanding, it is hoped that the social environment can become more inclusive and supportive of individuals who have introverted personalities or social anxiety. In the end, Kalut is not only a comic about the personal journey of an introvert, but also an invitation to work together to create an environment that is more accepting and caring about the differences around us.