Media Meditation: The No Longer Secret Knots

I discovered the webcomic The Secret Knots through StumbleUpon, a web service that uses your personal interests to deliver pages it thinks you’ll like—and it’s scarily good at it. I had it set to a variety of things—poetry, indie music, video games, etc. and found this comic. I assumed it had shown it to me based on the “video games” subject, but it piqued my interest on a neocortical level for a different reason. I’m a big film and literary geek, so I get really excited when I see good writing, and it seemed like this comic had it. It was really well-structured and incredibly unique. When I see this kind of thing, I’m driven to read more not because it’s entertaining, but because it’s well done. I have a nigh-uncontrollable urge to explore things that I think are what I consider “brilliant,” a descriptor I don’t assign lightly.

The comic, and the rise in popularity of webcomics in general, indicates an epistemological shift. Internet users tend to have short attention spans, and image-based media tend to be more effective at grabbing our attention. This comic is especially good at it, with is distinct color schemes and unique art style.

One of the strengths of this comic is the principle of individual meaning. A lot of the comic’s appeal comes from its writing—specifically, how open it is to interpretation. This one is a particularly good example. The people commenting generate a really great discussion about what the ending could potentially mean, which is a sign of really good writing, because it gives the reader a real sense of involvement.

As a medium based in entertainment, this comic doesn’t necessarily have a point to prove. However, it does display some elements of persuasive techniques. For example, it, like any good piece of creative writing, is packed with value messages for the reader to uncover. Many of the strips, like this one, could be interpreted as societal commentaries, while others operate on a more personal level.

Unfortunately, The Secret Knots doesn’t update as often as I’d like (only a few times a year), because whenever I read it I’m simultaneously stunned and inspired. It takes real talent to write like that, and this comic nails it.