Research Article

Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’

Number: 16 October 31, 2025
TR EN

Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’

Abstract

This study investigates how illustrations in concept albums by Melanie Martinez, Grimes, and Pomme narratively interact with lyrics. Examining Cry Baby (2015), Art Angels (2015), and Consolation (2022), the research analyzes how dedicated illustrations for each song reinforce, complicate, or extend their emotional and symbolic content. Moving beyond music videos, the study argues that illustrations actively shape focalization, tone, and symbolic coherence within track-image pairings, contributing significantly to literature of storytelling in contemporary music and warranting a reevaluation of visual narratives in popular culture.

Keywords

References

  1. Bal, M. (2009). Narratology: Introduction to the theory of narrative (3rd ed.). University of Toronto Press.
  2. Barthes, R. (1977). Image, music, text (S. Heath, Trans.). Hill and Wang.
  3. Beyoncé. (2016). Lemonade [Visual Album]. Parkwood Entertainment, Columbia Records.
  4. Bowie, D. (1972). The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars [Album]. RCA Records.
  5. Buhler, J., Neumeyer, D., & DeJarnett, R. (2010). Hearing the movies: Music and sound in film history. Oxford University Press.
  6. Chion, M. (1994). Audio-vision: Sound on screen (C. Gorbman, Trans.). Columbia University Press.
  7. Cook, N. (1998). Analysing musical multimedia. Oxford University Press.
  8. Culler, J. (2001). The pursuit of signs: Semiotics, literature, deconstruction. Routledge.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Media Literacy, Transmedia, New Media

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

October 28, 2025

Publication Date

October 31, 2025

Submission Date

May 26, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 27, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: 16

APA
Özkan, E. (2025). Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’. Etkileşim, 16, 308-331. https://doi.org/10.32739/etkilesim.2025.8.16.315
AMA
1.Özkan E. Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’. Etkileşim. 2025;(16):308-331. doi:10.32739/etkilesim.2025.8.16.315
Chicago
Özkan, Eray. 2025. “Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’”. Etkileşim, nos. 16: 308-31. https://doi.org/10.32739/etkilesim.2025.8.16.315.
EndNote
Özkan E (October 1, 2025) Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’. Etkileşim 16 308–331.
IEEE
[1]E. Özkan, “Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’”, Etkileşim, no. 16, pp. 308–331, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.32739/etkilesim.2025.8.16.315.
ISNAD
Özkan, Eray. “Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’”. Etkileşim. 16 (October 1, 2025): 308-331. https://doi.org/10.32739/etkilesim.2025.8.16.315.
JAMA
1.Özkan E. Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’. Etkileşim. 2025;:308–331.
MLA
Özkan, Eray. “Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’”. Etkileşim, no. 16, Oct. 2025, pp. 308-31, doi:10.32739/etkilesim.2025.8.16.315.
Vancouver
1.Eray Özkan. Narrative Role of Illustration in Concept Albums: Analyzing ‘Cry Baby’, ‘Art Angels’, and ‘Consolation’. Etkileşim. 2025 Oct. 1;(16):308-31. doi:10.32739/etkilesim.2025.8.16.315

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