Discussion Proper

RVA 111: READING VISUAL ARTS

UNIT 1: Introduction to Reading Visual Arts

Today, you live in a visually rich, screen-based world. You regularly encounter and create meaning and
knowledge through images and visual media. You complete your homework on one window of your computer, send
instant messages through a second window, listen to a personalized playlist on your iPod, and watch television out of
the corner of your eye—simultaneously. You live in a world of almost constant stimulation. Communication is
frequent and multidimensional. You are often a manipulator and creator of your own information and
entertainment. Bombarded by visual cues, you seem to translate images and information effortlessly, communing in a
conceptual world where “the thought’s the thing.”

A. Of Signs and Symbols

Signs & symbols are commonly used in everyday situations. They are used to convey
information in pictorial form. These have many advantages over written instructions. People
who talk different languages can understand the same common signs. Instructions for some
tasks can be clearer when given as drawings.

Kinds of Sign
Directional Signs: indicates directions.
Identifying Signs: name of a place or thing.
Informational Signs: gives information.
Restrictive or Prohibited: informational signs that
restricts the public from entering.

Symbols are abstract or geometric forms which

are associated with an idea. It can also mean as
pictograms.
Example of a symbol: a certain kind of cross may stand for a hospital
Pictograms are based on recognizable objects closely associated with the idea they
communicate.

B. Critical View of Visual Art

Visual texts are created using still or moving images. It may or may not contain words.
Examples of these are television, film, radio, advertising, billboards, the Internet, computer
games and programs, art works such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, architecture, book
covers, and illustrations.

Visual Text Comprehension

❖ Understanding images & words in the context it is being used.

o Bring life experiences & background knowledge to what is being read/viewed.
❖ All visual texts are influenced by the cultures, values, ideologies and world views in and through
which they are created & consumed.
o Eg. Family photo in your home vs. A family portrait in a magazine or
o Artists’ impression vs. housing agent’s view of a HDB estate

How to interpret visual texts?

We need to first identify the different elements that make up the text. These include:
images, colors, words – includes title, headlines, captions, typographical features - type
of font, font size, layout – spatial arrangement of different elements in a text.

IMAGES
Images are mental representations, pictures of objects, people or animals or any
diagram that provides visual information. Images in a visual text may contain: • People, animals
or object participating in an action • Flow charts, maps or labelled images showing a concept or
an idea • Symbols or icons.

MORE ON IMAGES…

Angles – looking down vs looking up

• Looking down at someone conveys a sense of power
or control
• Looking up at a person or object can make us feel
vulnerable
Framing – determines amount of information
given to viewers
• Close-up shot – closer social relation, lesser details
• Long shot – distant relation, more details

WORDS (Includes titles, headlines, captions) TYPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES

Font type and size
• Title – main topic of the poster
• Are the fonts in capital letters or non-
• Headline – main statement that capitalized letters?
tells the main message of the • Are some words intentionally larger or smaller
poster; usually the text in the for any reason?
largest and boldest font Why?
• Captions – It is the typed text
• Usually determines the reading paths of the
under photographs explaining the
reader/viewer.
image and usually in one sentence
• Reader/viewer will tend to be attracted to the
larger fonts
used in the text.
• Usually for words that are meant for emphasis.

LAYOUT
• Placement of elements in text can influence the meaning of the image.
Types of placement:
• Top/bottom – top contains the ‘attention-grabber’; Left/Right – left side contains information that
bottom contains new information. is understood; right side
present new information
Assess your Knowledge