Ways of SeeingNarrative medicine

Today’s session Focus on observation & description How do we describe images? How do images tell stories?

Task: 1. Write a description of an image (10 mins)2. Think about how images are constructed. (25

mins)3. Rewrite the description of the image (15 mins)

Write a description of this image

4

Systematic observation1. frame (the location of the image)2. form (the genre and its meanings; the

metaphors and allusions used)3. content (what is in the image, and their

associations for the viewer)4. composition (the relationship between the

objects/people in the image)5. desire (the viewer’s response)

Frame: The location of the image

Where does this take place? Time? Location?

Form: Genre, metaphor, allusions?

Form: genre What is the difference between a

photograph and a painting? Does the painting attempt to

give a faithful image of an event (realist)? show how the viewer perceives the scene

(impressionist)? portray an essential or hidden reality

(abstract)? manipulate your emotions (expressionist)?

Metaphor or allusion?

Content: what is in the image?

Content: what story does the painting tell??

David and Marjorie Landsborough

Kim Yao Chiu The Christian

hospital in Chunghua, 1928

Artist: Shi Qiao Li, commissioned by Dr Tsungming Tu

Composition: relationshipsCentre/Margins

Left/Right

Top/Bottom

Gaze and Gesture

Composition: relationshipsCentre/Margins

Left/Right

Top/Bottom

Gaze and Gesture

Desire: how do you feel about this picture?

Write about the painting again

15

NYU Literature, Arts & Medicine

http://litmed.med.nyu.edu