Visual communication and Visual analysis

“Everything looked at closely is full of wonder.” Jacob Grimm, 1785–1863 Philosopher, Jurist, Author

Prepared by Danielle Oser, APR

“Analysis reveals the person making the analysis, not really the piece itself ” Many analytical methods have been created throughout history

John Berger, Ways of Seeing An image must be seen analyzed within its presentational context

8 ways to analyze images From the book Small

World: An Academic Romance

Production Content Functional Expressional Figurative Rhetorical Societal Comparative

Personal Historical Technical Ethical Cultural Critical

The goal in using the six perspectives for analysis is to move from subjective to objective reactions.

Make an inventory list of everything you see

Notice the compositional elements and lighting

Study the use of visual cues

Look a the gestalt laws Identify the semiotic sign

types

Note the semiotic codes See how the cognitive

elements work What is the purpose of

the image What are the image

aesthetics

For any visual analysis, the first step should be to make an inventory list of everything you see

Notice the compositional elements, lighting, camera angles How do individual parts contribute to or distract from the picture as a whole?

Study the use of visual cues Form? Depth? Movement? Color? Light sources? Eyes?

Similarity? Proximity? Continuation? Common Fate?

Metonymy? Analogy? Displaced? Condensed?

Iconic? Indexical? Symbolic?

Memory? Projection? Expectation? Selectivity? Habituation? Salience? Dissonance? Culture? Words?

What is the purpose of the image? Art? News? Scientific? Personal? Where was the image made?

What are the image aesthetics? Formal or creative elements? Want to see more by the creator?

Initial Gut Reaction Do you like it or not? Memorable?

The image's Ask yourself: When do you think the image was made? Developments going on at the time? Is there a specific style that the image imitates?

How is it possible to see it? How was the image produced? Camera Settings? What techniques were employed? Is the image of good quality?

How are six philosophies used?

Do not add to grief Individual should be as

humane as possible and never harm others through invasive action

“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Personal Gain (Think Paparazzi)

Live for today Ethical philosophy that is

applied when the focus is on pleasure

Compromise Compromise is chosen

between two extremes Philosophy applied when

the choice is made to run a small school photo of a victim instead of no picture or a large color picture on the front page

A rule is followed Immanuel Kant

developed the philosophy.

Philosophy applied when a photographer chooses to take a picture whether or not a news outlet will use it is

Greater good wins Jeremy Bentham and

John Mill developed the utilitarian philosophy

People do not have a moral right to be sheltered from sad news

Does a photo of an accident disturb or persuade others to drive more carefully

Empathy Most recently developed

ethical philosophy Philosophy that is

applied when a photo is run because it might remind the viewer of their own loved ones and feel a connection

Societal Impact - What is learned from symbols? What is the story and the symbolism involved with the elements in the visual message? What do they say about current cultural values? Metaphors?

Reasoned Opinion - What do you think of it now? Can you make general conclusions based on the information learned? What do I think of this image now that you've spent so much time looking and studying it? .

Many large lessons are lost because of a failure to study small, captured moments