We had a lecture about the general language of visual culture and I found it really interesting. The main idea I took away from it was that our job as visual communicators was to make it possible to be able to read images and symbols with the same ease we read type. For this to be possible certain symbols have to be understood among different cultures for it to be understood freely. Some symbols are created for certain people with different levels of understanding but symbols such as the green cross for Pharmacies are understood worldwide as its important we recognise this incase we are ever in trouble abroad.
As I graphic designer I need to be as visually literate, this is to do with the effectiveness of the way I interpret images and doing my research on things like this so I have a wide understanding. Everyone is visually literate to some extent, a good example are bathroom symbols, they vary quite a lot but most people will still be able to interpret and understand them, due to the awareness of this symbol and the thought the designers have put into making it easy to read.
The lecture then went on to show how very small changes can completely change the concept of a symbol a great example is the simple '+' symbol, this could mean positive, plus or medical. But extend the bottom line '✝' and it becomes the symbol for Christianity.
Next we were explained the difference between visual syntax and visual semantics.
Firstly visual syntax- Visual syntax are like the sentences, words, spaces in type. But because is image based its the colour, composition, shape. A great example is if you see something photographed well it seems desirable to us but if composed and exposed badly it could do the completely opposite effect quite easily.
The semantics of an image refers to the way an image fits into certain cultures. Different cultures may interpret symbols different ways so you have to be certain not to offend people with symbols by exploring their different meanings in different contexts. An example is the Nazi symbol is very offensive and you wouldn't want to use it but turned onto it side in some cultures its seen as a symbol of peace.
This lecture was very helpful in the way I will look at symbols from now on.
Some great quotes I took from this were...
- "Every object has the capacity to stand for something other than what is apparent"
- "We live in a world where an apple isn't an apple and a blackberry isn't just a blackberry"
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