LESSON 3: VISUAL LITERACY AND VISUAL TEXT ‘The word “literacy” brings up many people's thoughts of dusty books in alibrary. Given the importance of the printed word in all of our lives, especially for those of us who aren't “digital natives,” this isn't surprising Despite the dominance of the written word in our classrooms, itis not the only way to convey our thoughts and ideas openly. In this age of the internet, we are constantly bombarded with static and moving images. Visual literacy abilities are more vital than ver for learners to navigate this image-rich environment ‘Screens of all sizes have dominated our attention spans. In the blink of an eye, YouTube and numerous social media platforms have substituted books as the primary source of, entertainment. This is unlikely to change in the future. In this session, you'll learn how to create activities that promote visual literacy and the usage of visual texts. ‘What is Visual Text? Before learning about visual literacy, it is necessary first to comprehend what it is. The act of interpreting and creating graphical images is defined as it, While visual literacy shares many parallels with other forms of literacy, it also has specific distinct characteristics that students will need to investigate. ‘The phrase “visual text” was used by John Debes, the founder of the International Visual Literacy Association, in 1969. Film, video, advertising, gaming, and the internet are all examples of visual texts. Visual literacy requires comprehending and making sense of color, line, format, light, texture, and shape. It is conceptually connected to art and design, but its uses are broader. Aspects of visual text and visual literacy include language, communication, and interaction. We use visual media as a language tool to engage, exchange ideas, and navigate our highly visual digital environment.Definition and Significance of Visual Literacy rages: Asaesul ‘Weare constantly bombarded with information in writen text anda. As Son vietation as humans, ‘we must process the data in all formats, Because of our visual 0 its no wonder that images have significant impact on ws. Improved vital trac? has several advantages, including: 1. Information that is presented visually is ea most effective ways for making the essential transition ‘memory to more robust long-term memory is to pair text wit toresearch, we remember just 10-20% of written or spoken informa {65% are presented graphically 2. Information is delivered more quickly when it is style. Visual data is processed very fat by the brain. Even gra the brain’ ability to see merely 13 milliseconds are misleading accounts for around 90% of the data transmitted to the brain 3. Assists pupils in communicating with people outside of the classroom Literacy instruction used to be thought of as a two-way street of reading and writing. Visual literacy is aterm that encompasses both the interpretation and creation of visuals. With an ever-increasing diagnosis of attention-deficit problems ina fast-paced society, we increasingly ely on pictures to convey meaning, 4, It improves comprehension. While photographs can be used independently, they are commonly combined with text or audio. Images can significantly aid their understanding ofa text or other medium. To interact with these higher layers of ier to remember. One of the from local short-term th visuals. According jon, but over presented in a visual pics that illustrate Visual information meaning i still necessary. 5. Encourages happiness. Visual literacy improves our understanding of the ‘material we consiume and our enjoyment of it- particularly of visual art. When we have a greater understanding of the “meaning” behind the artworks, are familiar with the background surrounding the art, have insights into the lives ofthe artists, or are knowledgeable about some of the techniques utilized to make the pieces, we usualy receive more enjoyment out of our visit What are forms of visual text used in the classroom? Students are exposed to significant amount of visual material. Although we may associate the phrase “visual text” with its digital embodiment, visual texts have deep roots in human history, dating back to our origins. Take a look atthe cave paintings of Lascaux! Ler Ne ESge om hie anda oma However, there are numerous sorts of visual texts to explore today. Billboards, photographs, television, video, maps, memes, digital stories, video games, timelines, signs, political cartoons, posters, flyers, newspapers, magazines, Facebook, Instagram, movies, DVDs, and mobile phone wallpaper are just a few examples of what students are exposed to. Because of the digital age, images have surged into our minds and unconsciousness Visual literacy has ramifications extending well beyond the classroom and into every part of our lives. There's something for everyone, whether @ math student analyzing ‘graphs, a music student following musical notation, or a geography student poring over Google Earth. Visual literacy is becoming more critical for various reasons and in multiple ‘mediums. ‘Visual Literacy Clues: What Are They and How Do We Read Them? “Visual literacy is the ability to make sense of images; it's not a skill; it's a toolbox of skills. Its a type of critical thinking that expands your intellectual capacity.” Brian Kennedy (Director, Toledo Museum of Art) Visual literacy isthe ability to decode meaning from a variety of visuals. Regardless of the image's nature, this technique follows three fundamental steps 81. What do you think you can see? You'll need tounderstand Visual Laene ond CVLCS, which includ subject matter, colors, angles, symbols, vectors, Bh NB look, movements, and shapes to answer that question. ‘These categories allow them to go further int the details ofthe image youre looking at 2. How Does It Make You Reel? After you've examined what you can seein the image through a study of the VCs, it's time to assess your or ee what you've observed. Youl talk about how the image makes you fee! and how it's influenced your feelings. Wrath, grief, enthusiasm, happiness, ‘and other emotions are possible. You are free to use any feeling as Jong as you can back it up with visual evidence. Here are some questions to help you come up with some ideas: a, Theme of the Film: Whatis the theme ofthe iln? In the photograph, who or wat is depicted? Whats the image's significance? b. Color: What part ofthe image does color play? What i the effect ofthe chosen colors on the audience? Angles. Are we looking upwards or downwards? Whats the camera's angle of view? What effect does this have on your perceptions and reactions to what you see? 4. Symbols: Can you tell me what the symbols in this image mean? What do you think they represent? Ist possible thatthe chosen colors have a symbolic meaning? €. Vectors: Canyousee the image'sprimarylines using vectors? Are they smashed or in good condition? What process allows the lines to generate reading paths for our eyes? { Lighting: Could you describe the lighting utilized in the movie? What influence does it have on the mood ofthe film? & Gaze: What kind of expression ison the characters face? What is the center of their focus? What does this mean in practice? h. Gestures: What kinds of gestures does the character use? What are the ‘meanings that these gestures are conveying? i. Shapes. Can you recognize the geometric shapes in the image? Is there a recurring pattern? fs there a pattern to this? Is it trying to represent order or chaos? 3. What is the image trying to tell us? This third element peels aside another layer of meaning to reveal the image's overall message, This question challenges you to investigate the image-maker’s intentions. You will analyze the nature of the image as art, entertainment, advertisement, ora fusi f i nt, or a fusion of the various genres; therefore the image's genre will be important here as well ee oure pres com Veoh vate teosnyVisual Technologies ‘The way young people create and share art is changing, making it challenging for school art programs to stay current and relevant. The arts have been tremendously influenced by technological progress. A single digital keyboard can now replace an entire orchestra. Using recording software, an off-key ‘musician can sound pitch-perfect. Computer-generated imagery (CGI) in movies can build new worlds that make The Wizard of Oz seem archaic. With simply a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, young people can create and share sophisticated work in the visual and audio domains. They do it with astonishing ease and frequently, but mostly outside of school. What is Visual Technology? ‘sual technology is any technology that takes, organizes, filters, learns from, or provides visual content to consumers or businesses. I's a horizontal focus that cuts across allindustries and people. What effect will new technology have on people's lives at work and play? Visual technology impacts a wide range of sectors, from personal to business, as well as sub-sectors such as medical, financial, sentiment analysis in advertising, publishing, shopping, autonomous automobiles, and so on. Visual technology has such an enormous impact on our society that you could not realize it. Facebook would not exist ifit were not for images and videos. However, before we get into the new technologies in the visual arts, let's go over the history of visual technology. We'll talk about visual art history and the latest visual arts technologies in this class.