Uncertainty Principle

Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle says, among other things, that the more accurately you can describe the location of a particle, the less accurately you can describe its velocity. The reverse is also true. Being the lover of dualities that I am, I wonder how far I can stretch this principle. Does it work for writing? For comics?

I believe that it does. Consider the last story you read. When characters enter a new location, you may have to read 2 full pages just describing this place. And all of that time, the characters aren't doing anything, either. The same thing happens in comics that have several wordless panels that are simply showing different parts or an area.

Conversely, when the characters are doing things, the scenery is unimportant or ignored. This is especially true in the case of Japanese comics, where the background is replaces by simple patters to accentuate the action.

But why is this the case? Why can't we have deep scenery and exciting action? Why can't we have our cake and eat it too (another great duality)? It's the problem of space. The words that fill your pages can either describe the scenery or the action. A panel in a comic can either show a place and it can show people, but it can't focus on both.

It is a frustrating fact of writing, but it doesn't have to be a detriment. Whichever focus you choose, make sure it is so effective that it does the work of both.