Visual Literacy & Visual Representation. What are visual texts? Visual texts are texts in which meaning is shaped and communicated by images rather than

Visual Literacy& Visual Representation

What are visual texts?

• Visual texts are texts in which meaning is shaped and communicated by images rather than words.

• Visual texts use techniques such as line, shape, space, colour, movement, perspective, angle and juxtaposition to shape meaning.

• Examples of visual texts include cartoons, billboards, photographs, artworks, web pages and illustrations.

What is visual literacy?• Visual literacy is the ability to decode,

interpret, create, question, challenge and evaluate texts that communicate with visual images as well as, or rather than, words.

• Visually literate people can read the intended meaning in a visual text such as an advertisement or film shot, interpret the purpose and intended meaning, and evaluate the form, structure and features of the text.

• They can also use images in a creative and appropriate way to express meaning.

Composition ...how visual texts are composed

• How is meaning made? Consider the following elements:– Symbols, signs and repetition– Use of colour– Perspective: foreground, mid-ground, background– Framing– Positioning of elements, e.g. centring, off-centre– Focal point– Reading pathways (vectors)– Angles– Use of action/stillness

What is a symbol?• A symbol is something that stands for or

represents something else.• Can you deconstruct the following symbols?

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.visitscotland.com/images/376870&imgrefurl=http://www.visitscotland.com/library/smoking&h=197&w=200&sz=12&hl=en&start=11&um=1&tbnid=91l6ez4Cg8Mz4M:&tbnh=102&tbnw=104&prev=/images?q=no+smoking+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&sa=N

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.roguecom.com/HCIG/infoital.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.roguecom.com/HCIG/linksinfo.html&h=150&w=150&sz=3&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=92Do_oy10DZAHM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=96&prev=/images?q=information+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&sa=N

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wakegov.com/NR/rdonlyres/1E2A6AE7-F3D6-4625-97EB-210A9261EA68/0/CloseLoopSubunitPic.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wakegov.com/recycling/schools/invole.htm&h=675&w=703&sz=21&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=GBOCDnA4Fxv-PM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=140&prev=/images?q=three+arrow+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/1/8/5/medium/581759.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bigstockphoto.com/photo/view/581759&h=250&w=270&sz=12&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=OHYNVuyLoIt6IM:&tbnh=105&tbnw=113&prev=/images?q=toilet+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roads/tcd/gfx/r05-01.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/roads/tcd/sign-r05-01.html&h=330&w=319&sz=6&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=-2eO1nvwGJ8V3M:&tbnh=119&tbnw=115&prev=/images?q=no+cycling+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.igniq.com/images/logo_redcross0206.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.igniq.com/2006/02/canadian-red-cross-wants-its-logo-out.html&h=250&w=250&sz=3&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=jEypfiHhpu6hPM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&prev=/images?q=red+cross+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.seattleaudubon.org/uploadedImages/Birding/Field_Trips/Handicap_Symbol.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birding.cfm?id=1025&h=111&w=104&sz=3&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=jhZc_LkFXls2tM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=81&prev=/images?q=handicap+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/newslet/winter00/wxwords.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/hnx/newslet/winter00/wxwords.htm&h=203&w=303&sz=25&hl=en&start=16&um=1&tbnid=Mk3wpDJeCMn7fM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=116&prev=/images?q=cloudy+weather+symbol&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

Cultural symbols ...

Australian cultural symbols ...

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au/xpf/sites/Treasures/media/glyph/items/nla.int-ex13-s2-item.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nationaltreasures.nla.gov.au/%3E/Treasures/item/nla.int-ex13-s2&h=400&w=310&sz=28&hl=en&start=1&um=1&usg=__UUiYIkRkCLyqrnlP-Rs30kQ3YjA=&tbnid=StJKVsaELcnqyM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=96&prev=/images?q=ned+kelly&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enAU268AU268&sa=N

Symbolic objects• Look at the following objects and write down a

symbolic meaning for each:

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celtic-weddingrings.com/files/images/Claddagh-Inset-Wedding-Ring-Yellow.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.celtic-weddingrings.com/Product.asp?ID=381&h=280&w=280&sz=26&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=I5PrzOPip1iP5M:&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images?q=wedding+ring&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Candle-calendar.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Candle-calendar.jpg&h=1200&w=1600&sz=95&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=fJeNCuEQIkExzM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images?q=candle&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

Colour can be used for meaning and effect

• Colours can have symbolic meaning. For each of the colours below, write down one or two symbolic meanings.

BLACK WHITE

PINK RED

GOLD BLUE

GREEN PURPLE

Animal Symbolism

• Animals can also be used to enhance meaning

and visual effect. Write down a possible

meaning for these animals:

Animal symbolism in advertising

• Look at the following ads which are based upon animal symbolism:

• What animal is used?• How is colour used? What colours are used?• How does the use of symbols and colour

enhance the visual text ... How are we as ‘responders’ positioned? Would you buy the product? Why/why not?

Visual text analysis

• Look at the following image and fill out your

‘Language Analysis’ sheet’.

• Does the written text complement the image?

Documents

Visual Literacy & Visual Representation. What are visual texts? Visual texts are texts in which meaning is shaped and communicated by images rather than