The Language of a Picture Book: Interpreting the “Kufli” phenomenon Cover Image

Egy képeskönyv nyelve. Szempontok a Kufli-jelenség értelmezéséhez
The Language of a Picture Book: Interpreting the “Kufli” phenomenon

Author(s): Márton Mészáros
Subject(s): Hungarian Literature
Published by: Korunk Baráti Társaság
Keywords: dialogue; generational studies; humor; picture book; visuality

Summary/Abstract: The improbable popularity of the “Kuflis” series by András Dániel raises questions about its causes. What makes this absurd and unlikely fairy-tale world captivating for both a five-year-old and an adult art historian or literature scholar? The “Kuflis” universe is unlike the conventional fairy-tale realm. Its main characters are amorphous, the plot is entirely arbitrary, and the illustrations deliberately defy the traditional beauty ideals of children's books. Moreover, the moral lessons, or rather the lack thereof, go against the norm, as acknowledged even by the characters within the stories themselves. The series manages to engage the interests of both young children and adults, challenging conventional storytelling norms and aesthetic expectations. The author analyses patterns of the dialogue between text and visuality in the series, that may answer some of the questions discussed above.

  • Issue Year: 2024
  • Issue No: 03
  • Page Range: 47-55
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Hungarian