Transcript visual literacy

VISUAL
LITERACY
Another
medium for
constructing
meaning
*What are different
forms (genres) of visual
communication?
-TV, movies, Youtube
short clips
-Ads
-Newspapers, posters,
fliers, magazines,
bumper stickers, pins,
logos, signs
-clothing, brands, hair
-crowds of people,
mobs, rallies
*What can be
interpreted/analyzed
through visual literacy?
-message communicated
-vibe/image/persona/body
language
-cultural/social info
-factual vs. false
-decency/appropriateness
-tone/attitude
My list of genres
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general: gestures, objects, signs,
symbols
 More specifically: dance, film, fashion,
hairstyles, exhibitions, public monuments,
interior design, lighting, photography,
computer games, advertisements (print
and TV), pamphlets, bumper stickers,
posters, architecture, and art
My list of aspects to analyze
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Subject matter
Cultural context
Syntax (style and composition)
Techniques used to produce it
Aesthetic merit
Purpose and audience
Merit in terms of communicating purpose and
reaching intended audience
Emotional impact
Visual literacy can be
analyzed in terms of:
 Semantics
 Syntax
(textual definition?)
(textual definition?)
Syntax – arrangement or structure of words in a
sentence
Semantics – study of meaning in words. This
involves issues in:
 connotation vs. denotation
 how language can be manipulated, logically,
ethically, and emotionally
 context
 tone/emphasis
 bias and propaganda
*What might we look for when it comes to visual
semantics? Visual syntax?
Five Key Questions about
Visual semantics*:
(*Semiotics= study of signs/symbols)
 Who
created this message?
 What techniques are used to attract my
attention?
 How might different people understand
this message differently from me?
 What lifestyles, values and points of view
are represented in, or omitted from, this
message?
 Why was this message sent?
Visual syntax terms
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Font (bold, italics,
style, size, sans)
Scale and dimension
Motion
Arrangement/layout
(balance b/w text and
image)
Framing/zooming/
cropping
Relative size of items
within images
Labeling
Captioning
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Harmony, contrast,
emphasis
Resemblance
Juxtaposition of
images
Depth, color, light,
shadow
Filled space (vs.
purposeful white
space)
Symbolism
Five core assumptions (keep
these in mind when you
analyze visuals):
 All
media messages are constructed.
 Media messages are constructed using a
creative language with its own rules.
 Media messages have embedded values
and points of view.
 Most media messages are organized to
gain profit and/or power.
 ***Different people experience the same
messages differently.***
Visual Literacy Activity
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Study the visual your group has been
given.
Discuss the 5 key questions about visual
semantics and how they apply to your
group’s visual.
Write answers to the key questions using
the terminology of visual syntax to
support.
Determine which of the five core
assumptions apply to your visual.
HW
Read/annotate Chapter 1 and Chapter 4 of Thomas
Paine’s “Common Sense” (Pdf file under 11IB
Documents)
 Analysis/reflection on following questions, minimum 300
words total, structured as you see fit, typed and
submitted to tii.com:
 Given the fact that “Common Sense” was published as
a pamphlet, what seem to be the main differences
between Revolutionary pamphlets and modern
pamphlets, like the ones we looked at in class?
 Do images and the ability to visually manipulate
pamphlets change the content of the message? In
what way?
 How do these differences relate to the connection
between written and visual language? Language and
technology?
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HW – Punditry and Social Media
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Look up the concept of punditry
Access the list of pundits:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pundits_in_the_United_St
ates
Choose two pundits to research in general and then follow
on Twitter.
In your WN, explain what you found out about them from
your research and cite your sources. Look for professional
history, party affiliation, what they typically discuss, any
famous/infamous/momentous incidents they are known for.
Copy two of their tweets into your WN and analyze what
they demonstrate about their ideology and/or role in the
media world.
Jot down some thoughts on how punditry influences politics,
how social media influences politics, and if there is anything
unique to be said for the combination of the two.
GROUP DISCUSSIONS
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Share what you learned about your pundits,
including how their ideology is/is not expressed
through their Twitter feed.
Next, discuss the following questions:
How does punditry influence politics?
How does social media influence politics?
What happens due to the combination of punditry and
social media?
How is bias an issue?
What are other sources of political information that we
have examined during this unit that exhibit bias?
What sources are more likely to be biased and why?
Does technology enhance the possibility of bias?
What is the link between bias and “quality of thought”?
(Refer to Political Timeout article for this one)
HW
 Secondary
posts on politics discussion
board due Sunday night
 250 word reflection (printed and tii) on
how the Newsroom episode exposed
issues relating to language,
communication, and mass media.
Integrate topics we have discussed in
class, where applicable: bias, punditry,
social media, partisanship, quality of
thought, ideology, audience/purpose,
etc.
Essential Unit Topics/Terminology
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Language
Technology
Social media
Visual language
Visual literacy
Semantics/semiotics/syntax
Bias
Punditry
Ideology
Quality of thought
Mass media/communication
Objectivity vs. subjectivity
Rhetoric
Historical politics vs. modern
Partisanship
Audience/purpose
Unit Text Types and Names
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Political speeches – JFK, Romney, Obama, Patrick
Henry, Ben Franklin
Debate transcripts – any of the presidential debates
Satirical articles – “Fly the Partisan Skies”, “Oratory Boreatory”
Political cartoons
Pamphlets – Common Sense, The Crisis, any modern
ones
Podcasts
Editorial articles/op-eds – Facebook article, “Political
Timeout”
Video – satirical clips, “Newsroom”, visuals of
debates/convention speeches, candidates’ campaign
advertisements, newscasts
Social media – twitter feeds, Facebook pages, blogs