VISUAL LITERACY
-without images, thinking is impossible
Familiarity
-the state of knowing something very well
Visual
-relating to, used in vision attained or
maintained by sight producing mental
images
Literacy
-quality or state of being literate
Symbol
-a mark, sign, or word that indicates,
signifies, or is understood as representing an
idea, object, or relationship.
Infographics
-graphic visual representations of
information, data, or knowledge intended to
present information quickly and clearly. They
can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to
enhance the human visual system’s ability to
see patterns and trends.
Visual Literacy
-the ability to interpret, negotiate and make
meaning from information presented in the
form of an image, extending the meaning of
literacy, which commonly signifies
interpretation of a written or printed text
-based on the idea that pictures can be
“read” and meaning can be through a
process of reading
-refers to a group of vision-competencies a
human being can develop by seeing and at
the same time having and integrating other
sensory experiences [understanding how
people perceive objects, interpret what they
see, and what they learn from them] (Debes,
1969).
-an art
-a form of critical thinking
EXAMPLE: Helen of Troy (a face that
launched a thousand ships)
“A picture paints a thousand words”
Multiple ideas can be conveyed by a single
still image, which conveys its meaning or
essence more effectively than a mere verbal
description
Visual literacy (or visual skill) is the
foundation of learning. People read pictures
before they master verbal skills. Visual
Literacy allows individuals to interpret art
and visual media as they come into contact
with them.
ART
-the conscious use of skill and creative
imagination especially in the production of
aesthetic objects (painting, sculpture,
graphics, etc.)
Before 1500 art was primarily part of the
persuasive power and cultural identity of the
church, ruler, city, institution, or the wealthy
patron commissioning the artwork. In this
sense, art might be considered alongside
ceremonies, for example, as strategies
conveying social meaning or magnificence,
or as a demonstration of wealth and power
by the patron commissioning the artwork to
be made.
“It is among the highest expression of
culture, embodying its ideals and
aspirations, challenging its assumptions and
beliefs, and creating new visions and
possibilities for it to pursue” (Sayre, XVI)
WHAT IS AN ART FOR?
1. Art keeps us hopeful.
2. it makes us less lonely.
3. It rebalances us.
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4. It helps us become appreciative.
5. It is a propaganda for what really matters.
ELEMENTS OF VISUAL ARTS
1. THE POINT
-visual element upon which all others are
based.
-a singularity in space, or in geometric terms,
the area where 2 coordinates meet.
-a figure-ground relationship is created when
a simple point is marked on a surface
(referred as ground)
-can be used to create forms
EXAMPLE: Pointillism – made by Georges
Seurat (late 1900s)
2. LINES
-when two or more points are put together
-a point in motion
-characterized by their length being greater
than their width
-can be static or dynamic depending on how
the artist choose to use them
-help determine the motion, direction, and
energy in a work of art
TYPES
Actual lines – physically present
Implied lines – created by visually connecting
two or more areas together; can also be
created when two areas of diff colors or tones
come together
Straight or Classic lines – provide structure
to a composition; can be oriented to the
horizontal, vertical, diagonal axis of a
surface; visually stable while still giving
direction to a composition
Expressive lines – curved, adding an
organic, more dynamic character to a work of
art; often rounded and follow undetermined
paths
Outline – (or contour line) simplest line;
create a path around the edge of a shape;
they define shapes
Cross Contour lines – follow paths across to
delineate differences in surface features;
give flat shapes a sense of form (illusion of
3d) and can also be used to create shading
Crosshatch lines – provide additional tone or
texture; can be oriented in any direction;
multiple layers of these can give rich and
varied shading to objects by manipulating the
pressure of the drawing tool to create a large
range of values
3. SHAPES (positive, negative & planar
issues)
-an enclosed area in two dimensions
-always implies and flat in nature
-can be created in many ways, the simplest
encoding an area with an outline
-can be made by surrounding an area with
other shapes or the placement of diff textures
4. PLANE
-any surface area in space
-the flat surface an image is created upon a
2D art
5. SPACE
-the empty area surrounding real or implied
objects
-outer space, inner space, personal space
One-point Perspective
-occurs when the receding lines appear to
converge at a single point on the horizon and
used when the flat front of an object is facing
the viewer
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-can be used to show the relative size and
recession into space of any object, but most
effective with hard-edged three-dimensional
objects such as buildings
Two-point Perspective
-occurs when vertical edge of a cube is
facing the viewer, exposing two sides that
recede into the distance, one to each
vanishing point
Three-point Perspective
-“bird’s eye view”
-when the projection line recedes to two
points on the horizon and a third either far
above or below the horizon line
6. COLOR
-most complex artistic element because of its
variations and combinations
-used to give desired direction to their work
-fundamental to many forms of art
-the full spectrum of color is contained in
white light
Color theory first appeared in the 17th century
when English mathematician and scientist
Sir Isaac Newton discovered that white light
could be divided into a spectrum by passing
through a prism
WRITING TECHNIQUES
Essay
-a short literary composition that reflects the
author’s outlook or point
INTRODUCTION – description of the topic
THESIS STATEMENT – stand or claim
about the topic
SUPPORTING DETAIL – discussion of the
details that support the claim
CONCLUSION – restatement of the thesis;
may include the call to act inviting the reader
to take a specific course of action related to
the claim
THINGS TO CONSIDER IN WRITING
Transition signals/devices
– (bridges between parts) cues that help the
reader to interpret ideas a paper develops
-words/phrases that help carry a thought
form one sentence (or idea or paragraph) to
another
Tone
-the writer’s attitude toward the reader and
the subject of the message
-the overall tone affects the reader just as
one’s tone of voice affects the listener in
everyday exchanges (Ober 88)
-present in all communication activities;
reflection of the writer and it does affect how
the reader will perceive the message
Guidelines in using tone
o Be confident.
o Be courteous and sincere.
o Use non-discriminatory language.
o Stress the benefits for the reader.
o Write at an appropriate level of
difficulty
Diction
-(word choice) choosing the right word for the
right situation, which can set the scene or
evoke a particular mood in writing
-can tell you something about a writer’s
attitude towards a subject, their background,
etc.
-makes a piece pleasing to read or difficult
and boring
HIGH diction – formal or elevated; used in
research papers or formal speeches
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MIDDLE – essentially neutral; can be used in Documentation – a basic requirement in
a variety of settings to reach a broad research writing to ensure that credit is given
audience; essays and newspaper articles to the sources of information, and would not
pass of to someone else’s work
LOW – informal language; slang or colloquial
speech; magazine blurbs, social media TIPS:
posts, friend texts
1. always cite the origin of the information
POINT-OF-VIEWS
2. follow the correct format in citing authors
First person – I or we; avoided in academic
3. choose only the reliable online sources
writing(not when citing your own data or
primary sources)
Second person – you; can sound informal to Common documentation styles
audience; often avoided in academic writing;
used in recipes, instructions, creative writing MLA (Modern Language Association) –
standard format for papers, articles, and
Third person – he, she, they, it; has a wide books in the arts and humanities
range of uses in both creative and academic
contexts APA (American Psychological Association)
style used by teachers in business and social
OTHER WRITING STRATEGIES sciences
Summarizing
-capturing the main ideas of the text In-text citation – brief form of reference
included in the body of your paper
-broad overview of the material
References/work cited – appears at the last
-determining the gist of a literature (key
page of the research paper; contains the
concepts and words)
complete information or list of works/sources
Paraphrasing that you used
-one of the most common strategies used to
avoid plagiarism
-conveying a message using your own words
-the original idea or essence of the sentence
remains the same although it is articulated
and structured in another way
Synthesizing
-combining ideas form literature and priori
knowledge and using these information to
“form a new idea, perspective, opinion, or
insight
-involves interacting with the text and
determining how they relate to your
understanding of the concept

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