Visual Literacy
Credit http://www.pomona.edu/Academics/courserelated/classprojects/Visual-lit/intro/intro.html
Everyday we are bombarded by visual input. An overwhelming amount of what we know about our world is taken in via our eyes and processed into fact, opinion, needs, wants and more. The eyes are truly the windows to our soul. Yet many of us do not know the basic mechanics of what we see let alone the fact that we can be easily manipulated towards an opinion or need just by setting up the right visual tricks. As humans, we need to understand that we bring a set of personal, socio-economical, and cultural differences to every visual experience. As vampires it goes even deeper. Visual input is energy. Understanding how and why we feel a certain way about a visual experience aids in balancing our energy needs
Long a topic of advertising and visual arts, the field of visual literacy bloomed in the 1990’s as the information age became the visual input age. Much of the current buzz on visual literacy centers around the field of education. Educators are now taught to use enhanced visual input to break away from the old “chalk & talk” teaching methods. But the same exercises and discussions can very much help anyone wishing to learn more about the “whys” of what we see.
The Basics
http://www.educ.kent.edu/community/VLO/index.html
In beginning to understand visual literacy, you need a starting point. What defines visual literacy? What elements are important to “see”? What sets of personal & cultural prejudices does each of us bring to the visual arena?
Though basic in nature, this website by educators Cindy Kovalik, Ph.D. & Peggy King, M.Ed. from Kent State University provides you with an understanding of baseline principals. They address everything from economic and cultural perceptions to designs elements and principals. By the time you tour this clip-art heavy presentation, you will have gained a comprehension of principals of the field.
Elements of Visual Perception
Now that you understand what comprises visual literacy you need to understand each of the elements that are key to perception. The Visual Literacy Project site offered by Pomona College beautifully and competently breaks out each of the visual elements to perception. Design principals from line, to hue, to scale are all clearly explained in a site using classic components which visually represent the principals presented here. You will learn much here about each of the visual components and the ways you perceive them.
Color
Credit http://www.pomona.edu/Academics/courserelated/classprojects/Visual-lit/intro/intro.html
http://psychology.about.com/library/weekly/aa031501a.htm
Color is one of the main ways that we are affected visually. Every color has a wavelength. Color is pure energy. Color is a main visual component that affects in a psychological manner. It is no mistake that there is a Coca-Cola red or an IMB blue. Each of these colors has been carefully researched and copyrighted. They set-up predictable psychological emotional responses that are key to representing their products.
While the psychology color site listed is one of those annoying, ad & pop-up heavy About.com sites, the information presented is valid. Click each of the color squares to gain an insight about the effects of color on the human psyche
Credit http://www.symbols.com
Symbolism
http://www.symbols.com
Only part of what we see written is language. The other part is a graphic representation of an idea. Symbols are the oldest form of written visual communication. We are constantly flooded with symbolic input. But what does it all mean? Symbols.com is a graphic dictionary of sorts. Broken down by both verbal and graphic descriptions, you can search for the meanings and history behind many of the symbols you see in day to day life. You can start to see and understand some interesting correlations too. For instance, I find it fascinating that the symbol for high pressure is sometimes used as a symbol for meeting place. Just the confused visual message there is enough to set up a physical, emotion reaction to the symbol itself. Interesting.
Test Those Visual Skills
http://www.csuohio.edu/history/exercise/vlehome.html
Here is an enjoyable way to test your visual acuity. In this exercise by Lee A. Makela you take your time flipping thru fifteen richly illustrated woodblock prints by nineteenth century Japanese print artist Hiroshige Ando.
The images give you a great deal of visual information about the culture of Japan at that time. After you have viewed the images, you will then be asked questions on what it was you saw. In the second part of this exercise, you will be given text information that correlates to each image so that you can judge your visual performance. This is a wonderful exercise for determining how much you see or miss on a controlled basis.
Visual Playground
Credit http://www.pomona.edu/Academics/courserelated/classprojects/Visual-lit/intro/intro.html
http://www.juxtapoz.com
So where can you take all your new found visual literacy skills out to play? Try one of my favorite visual playgrounds. Juxtapoz is now celebrating its tenth anniversary as the art magazine at the cutting edge of the underground movement. Not typical by any means, Juxtapoz combines less traditional underground mediums (tats, auto art, graffiti, etc) with the best that modern art has to offer. The website here, while not showing complete articles, will wet your palette for more and send you screaming to your local bookstore for the print edition of the zine. Enjoy. It’s worth the ride.
Veritatem dies aperit.
LA. Judge / nodecaf
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