"If readers are to understand how images represent and contruct meaning, they need knowledge of the various visual sign systems (e.g. photography, diagrams, graphs, typography, illustrations)" (Serafini, 2011, 343).
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Written text is governed by the logic of time or temporal sequence, whereas visual images are governed by spatiality, composition, and simultaneity (Kress, 2003, as cited in Serafina, p. 343).
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"When characters or actors in an image are positioned closely to a view, readers tend to feel a strong relationship with them. In contrast, the farther away objects and participants are positioned, the less readers are able to connect to them" (Serafini, p. 346)
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"When readers are positioned to look up at a character, , readers tend to view the character as powerful. In contrast, when readers are positioned to look down on a character, readers tend to the view the character is less powerful" (p. 346).
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For the last five years I have been doing a Think-Write unit at the beginning of the year. The first few Think-Writes I do are with images because after a long summer break I find that the students have a much better time re-engaging with academic content if we can start them with visual literacy. The following is an assignment that I use for Image Analysis. This image and statement was originally out of an Adbusters magazine which I have long since lost. In the document I have included research by Rowsell, McLean and Hamilton (2012) about how to draw meaning from images. Below that I have the questions that I developed on my own over the years as well as responses from the class as they come up with answers individually, in think-pair-shares and then as a collective group. It always amazes me how much insight can be drawn from a simple image and statement.
Preiconographic Analysis
-focuses on the interpretation of the primary or natural meaning and involves the identification of visual data with objects known from experience -denotative meaning |
Iconographic Analysis
-focuses on the interpretation of secondary or conventional meaning, which requires viewers to move beyond the literal image to consider their experiences during the interpretive process -connotative meaning |
Iconological Analysis
-focuses on the interpretation of the intrinsic meaning and incorporates the underlying principles and philosophical ideas where cultural ideologies are revealed -associated with ideological and cultural meanings constructed in social, political and historical contexts -Serafini, p. 344 |
This is another image that I use to get students to start to understand the many different levels that we can approach image analysis. Using the same process and described above, it is amazing to see students draw more information out as we expand and share knowledge with a larger population. Many of them don't catch many of the visual signals Del Prete (1992) tries to convey but once we start sharing it is amazing to see how engaged students are with the image. Below the image I have the document I used to trigger students' thoughts.