Ways of Seeing
The Harrison article is very interesting. Harrison is a writer who is attempting to explain the importance of images and words. The argument is mainly that words and images work best together. She discusses the term "Semiotics." This terms means the study of signs. She also discusses three other terms. The Icon, Index, and Symbol. An icon bears a similarity to the real-world object. The Index is when the concept and object work together to convey the meaning. The last one is Symbol. This may not look anything like the actual object, but through social structure, we all recognize the symbol to represent the object. The article also discusses the importance for the author to create three things when merging words and images. Representational, interpersonal, and compositional metafunctions. Representational is basically what is in the image. Interpersonal is more about how you interact with the image. Compositional is how the image and words work together to create a meaningful whole.
ICON
INDEX
SYMBOL
The Berger video "Ways of Seeing" also held my attention. In the part we watched, Berger discusses the strength of reproductions of art, and how there meanings change. The exercise with the Goya is what I remember most. He would put in a short clip or image, then show us a famous Goya painting. Depending on the clip that preceded it, we felt different things. It changed the way we though about the painting. When it showed the tied up black men followed by the Goya, it made me feel quite differently then when he showed the ladies dancing.
I think that taking art, images, and icons out of context can drastically change the meaning of a symbol, piece, or image. I think this is why the authors emphasized on how important it is and how effective text and images are together. Such as in the McCloud reading that there are two ends of the spectrum and the happy medium is usually the best in conveying a message. Otherwise you have too much text or to many images, not saying that this is bad to have too much of either or.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree that the Goya painting example probably best sums up what Berger is trying to argue. Although I didn't really understand what the dancing girls and the execution said together. Maybe it enhanced the seriousness of the Goya and enhanced the trivialness of the dancing girls? I'm not sure. The historic painting of execution and the live presentation of execution in the modern day seemed to suggest something about the continuance of brutal treatment by extreme militarized groups.
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