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Information Graphics

Infographics are used to visually represent information or data. Some examples of infographics are pie charts, flow charts, data maps, and bar graphs. Nowadays, anyone can create websites, illustrations, or graphics because computer technology is becoming easier to manage and afford. As a result of that, there is more competition, especially with online advertising and graphics, thus people have to become more creative with it. For example, interactive infographics are now becoming a popular way to spread information or advertise to an audience.

This image above is from an interactive infographic from https://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2012/may/08/gay-rights-united-states. It provides an in-depth explanation and analysis of gay rights in the United States. It allows the viewer to scroll over the graph and select any state of their choosing and see its laws and bans regarding different categories including marriage, hospital visits, adoption, employment, housing, hate crimes, and schools. This infographic is effective because it is straight to the point, not loaded with too much information that the viewer would get confused, and it is organized.

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Graphic Design

Graphic design is the artistic process of combining typography, illustrations, symbols, photos, etc., to convey a message, idea, or feeling. Graphic designers use this process for all forms of media like advertising, websites, branding, books, and posters.

This example of graphic design is a book cover from the novel, The Great Gatsby. The graphic designers who created this cover used several elements and principles of design. The first very obvious element is color. The color yellow is dominant and instantly grabs the attention of the viewer. Since yellow is an ambiguous color, simply looking at the cover cannot convey too much about the story. In The Great Gatsby, it is revealed that yellow is symbolic for artificiality, failure, and death.

Warmth and coolness also play a role in graphic design. The man depicted on the cover is half shaded on his upper body. Not only does this provide a nice, eye appealing contrast between light and dark, but it also communicates a mysterious and dramatic feel.

Space and spatiality, another principle of design, are present on this cover with the use of negative space which creates the shape and form of the chair the man is seated on.

While all these elements of design coalesce to create a satisfying cover, the most likable aspect of it is its simplicity. The type, the limited use of colors, and the nonchalant implementation of creativity as the man holds the letter Y as a drinking glass, all contribute to the overall simplistic yet suspenseful effect.

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Typography

Typography is the art and technique of arranging and displaying type. It is used in graphic designing, advertising, and appears all around us despite our lack of awareness. Although we may not want to believe it, typography plays a large role in our choices to buy products. Some factors that come into play include the legibility of the type, font choice, size, spacing, and color.

In 2017, there has been many music festivals and upcoming ones as well. To advertise, posters are created, of which include a variety of styles and typography.

This poster is pleasing to the eye because of its legible, yet creative and playful font, the colors used to separate the artists’ names, and the leading (the amount of white space between the lines of text).

This poster is not as eye capturing due to the difficulty that comes with reading tall lettering with close-packed kerning (the amount of space between letters). The names are separated by colors too, but not as effectively as the first poster whose colors were easily distinguished from one another.

The neatness about this poster is satisfying; the sans-serif typeface (type that lacks serifs, or the decorative ends on lettering), the simplicity of white coloring, and the bright blue background that makes the white font pop.

Lastly, this poster is appealing because of its playfulness and colors. It is definitely using a display typeface, which is more decorative and perfect for a music festival poster vibe.

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/01/every-2017-festival-poster-so-far.html

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Editorial Cartoons

Political, or editorial, cartoons are used to address serious issues in humorous, satirical, ironic, and symbolic ways. They can be funny, however, their main purpose is to bring to light important political matters with the goal of persuading people towards the cartoonist’s point of view. Editorial cartoons can spark realizations, cause people to think more critically, and change their opinions on certain topics. They are also used to exaggerate the physical characteristics and the actions of particular people, such as Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election.

This political cartoon targets Donald Trump and addresses the way in which he approaches the debates. Instead of facts, persuasive arguments, and logic, he uses insults. This cartoonist implements funny exaggerations to bring his/her point across. The caricature of Trump focuses on his interesting hair (with hair spray off to the side) and his large mouth that seems to utter pure nonsense (as he is holding a book that reads 1001 Insult Jokes).

This cartoon addresses healthcare and how Trump seems to be handling it in ways which will help himself and people of his social standing while putting many other lives at risk. Proposing to defund Planned Parenthood and block federal spending to organizations that provide affordable abortions, maternal health, cancer screening services, and the Affordable Care Act will have catastrophic effects on 30 million Americans who will lose their insurance coverage as well as free preventative care. This editorial cartoon depicts Trump ironically stating that the ACA will cover everyone, but in reality it will cover them in their deathbeds.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/317266-president-trumps-policies-are-bad-for-your-health

http://theweek.com/articles/659759/relive-donald-trumps-campaign-23-political-cartoons

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/1/18/1621634/-Cartoon-Trump-s-health-care-plan

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Photographic Representation

Photographs in journalism have been manipulated and staged since the beginning years of photography, or the end of the 19th century. During that time, staging pictures was the easiest way for photographers to document the Civil War due to the large cameras that took two people to utilize. Even with easily portable cameras nowadays, there is a bigger risk of photo manipulation mostly due to the invention of photoshop. Many people, without fact checking, believe almost everything they see because a journalists’ job is to speak truth, and so society relies on them for exactly that. Therefore, manipulating audiences is not a tough task.

After 9/11, an image depicting a tourist posing in a picture on the top of the World Trade Center Building began circulating the internet. In the background of the photo, a plane was directly behind him. There was a caption attached to the photo explaining that the picture came from a camera found in debris after the 9/11 attacks and that the image had been taken right before the plane hit.

This is the perfect example of digital manipulation. The picture was indeed photoshopped by the man in the photo himself, who had posed for the photo while on vacation in November of 1997. Post 9/11, he photoshopped the plane in the background as a joke to share with a few friends, however the picture unintentionally spread to millions.

Despite the portable camera, photographs are sometimes still staged.

This photograph surfaced on the internet with a caption reading, "An Iraqi girl in an orphanage - missing her mother, so she drew her and fell asleep inside her.” The reality of this photograph is that it was set up, which altered the meaning and emotional grab of the image. The picture itself can gather a multitude of interpretations, however the caption is what swayed the viewers to understand it in a given way.

http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/features/report/8531/how-fake-viral-photos-manipulate-your-emotions/

http://www.phdinparenting.com/blog/2014/1/30/the-meaning-behind-a-photo-children-photo-journalism-and-soc.html

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Convergence Media This social media site is called PHHHOTO. It is based on visual gifs, which are photographs that move because they have multiple frames. When it comes to social networking, PHHHOTO may be the best thing yet, as there are many different and creative ways to utilize the app. As always, there are pros and cons to it. Pros: -PHHHOTO is free! -Taking moving pictures is fun. -There are many different filters/effects you can use on a gif you take. -Lots of people are already using this app, and the “WOW” page, or the popular page, contains many cool and inspirational moving images. -It is easy to figure out how to use. -You can create group chats with friends. -You can like and comment on others’ gifs. -You can save your own and other people’s posts. -The phhhotos you like can be viewed again on your profile under “likes” -It is a great way to share a live moment in moving frames. -PHHHOTO gives you the opportunity to be weird, different, and creative. -You can use hashtags, which help more people discover your phhhotos. -It is constantly being updated to provide bigger and better things to its users, for example, more filters, optional sound (because it used to not allow sound on gifs), etc. -The pros definitely outweigh the cons. Cons: -Like many other apps, PHHHOTO has a lot of ads. -Although they have several filters, they offer even more but at a cost, and it can get a little pricey. -All accounts are public, which can be a good or bad thing according to different people.

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The Encoding-Decoding Model

Dominant reading occurs when a message is decoded exactly how the media desired one to decode it; there are no additional questions.

Negotiated reading occurs when an individual questions a message’s meaning and reasons behind using such a message, but likely understands and finds a common ground with their intentions.

Oppositional reading occurs when an individual interprets and decodes a mass-media message, understands the text’s code, however ultimately rejects the reading due to their social situation.

A dominant reading of this ad would interpret the advertisement exactly how the media intended it; milk will reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. This can potentially cause those interpreting this ad to associate any “misunderstanding” with PMS and believe milk to always be a solution.

A negotiated reading of this ad would question the need for such advertisement when there are an infinite number of ways to sell milk but would likely come to an understanding of the intended message.

An oppositional reading of this ad might acknowledge the advertisement’s attempt at selling milk, but disagree with the media’s downplay of premenstrual syndrome and entirely reject the advertisement because the viewer does not accept the text’s code.  

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Visual Persuasion

Shock advertising steps outside of societal norms in order to convey a message that would otherwise be overlooked if not drawn immediate attention to by the use of graphic or shocking imagery.

The image above delivers an important message. It demonstrates the difficulties a woman faces trying to live up to society’s standards of beauty. This picture depicts the woman as the victim and unreachable beauty ideals as the perpetrator. It shows how today’s world is not accepting if one does not reach the expected standards of beauty; in a way it almost dehumanizes an individual as if the “norm” is to change oneself according how others want to see you. Another message this picture potentially displays is the violence that lurks in the shadows of beauty. There are times when violence is overlooked because a woman’s beauty was “asking for it.” The way a woman dresses and accentuates her features through makeup is many times used as an excuse to sexualize or take advantage of them.

Propaganda in visuals is oftentimes used to persuade and manipulate the viewer into falling for an advertisement.

The image above is a perfect example of propaganda because it targets the viewer and manipulates them into believing that if you join a car-sharing club, you will not be affiliated with supporting Hitler.

https://www.tes.com/lessons/iJIJtVTQKceE2A/propaganda

https://dinagouda1.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/mutilation-for-the-sake-of-advertising/

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Gestalt and Cognitive Processes

Cognitive dissonance is defined as when two ideas contradict one another and cause a discomfort, which forces an individual to make a choice on which idea they support based on preconceived notions, their culture, or their upbringing. A popular example is smoking cigarettes; one knows smoking can cause cancer, thus they are forced to make a choice whether to take the risk and smoke, or not.

Visuals can communicate the same type of opposing beliefs.

The picture above shows the bible being claimed as fictitious. Simply this alone can cause controversy because many people believe the bible to be a holy text with sacred writings that prove god to be real, while others believe the bible is an outdated combination of mythical stories used to dictate religion. A religious person may look at this image, read the text, and feel uneasy because their beliefs contradict what it is saying. Therefore, they can make the choice whether to agree or disagree with it.

This visual above is a perfect example of cognitive dissonance because each row of pictures contains a contradiction. The last set of images shows someone putting down atheists and fighting for religion in schools and courts, yet in the picture beneath, the same person is asking that people stop disrespecting her religion and waging a war against christianity when she was just doing the same thing but towards atheists. This comic illustrates how people are willing to justify their claims based on their preconceived ideas.

Habituation is the process of when repeated exposure to a stimulus causes a decrease in response. For example, the same morning routine done every day will eventually become monotonous, and one will be able to complete the routine without paying much attention to detail because they are so familiar with it.

This picture depicts a priest officiating a marriage. Underneath the image it says “May the habituation commence.” This is implying that marriage becomes habitual and repetitive.

http://fisheswithfeet.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-dissonance.html

https://explorable.com/habituation

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Semiotics

Charles Sanders Peirce’s Sign Theory categorizes signs into three different types: iconic, indexical, and symbolic.

Iconic signs are representative. They are a depiction of a concept or object. For example, a photograph taken of a car is iconic simply because the picture resembles the actual car.

Indexical signs are inferred. They are indirect representations of concepts or objects, and are interpreted through something that implicitly suggests a concept or object. For instance, a cloudy sky may indicate rain or coldness.

Symbolic signs are acquired through culture; they must be learned in order to be acknowledged and understood. In different cultures, colors are associated with different meanings, such as, in America, yellow is seen as a happy and warm color, whereas in France, it symbolizes weakness and betrayal.

The English rock band known as The Beatles used this photograph on their album, Abbey Road. All three signs are present within the image. This picture is iconic because it physically represents The Beatles. There are also indexical signs; their shadows indicate sunlight and their positions signify movement. The symbolic sign of this image represents togetherness. The first song on this album is called “Come Together,” and this photograph entirely illustrates that.

http://vanseodesign.com/web-design/icon-index-symbol/

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Minolta 370x (Neopan 100 + Rodinal (1+25))  

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Form Vs. Content

A visual is made up of two distinct parts: form and content. Form means the elements that make up a work, while content is the emotional meaning of a work derived from those elements. Garry Winograd’s words stuck with me: “Every photograph is a battle of form versus content,” and this statement brought to my realization that content would not exist without the shapes, space, lines, colors, and configurations that make up an image, and form would essentially not matter without an individual’s subjective interpretation. Both form and content keep the other alive.

The works of Henri Cartier-Bresson, a well known French photographer of the 20th century, are great examples of images containing visual form and content:

In this photograph taken in Seville, Spain, Cartier-Bresson creates form mostly by the use of framing which automatically captures the viewer’s attention. Although this image is in black and white, the spectrum of light to dark provides form as well, allowing for the audience’s eye to be directed in a somewhat zigzag motion; this movement can be seen from the boy in dark clothing in the front left corner, to the other boy in black towards the right, and then finally to the boy in black in the far distance to the left. The same motion goes for the other children in lighter clothing as well.

Once the viewer takes in the form of this photograph, the figures within that frame provide content, as does the environment they are in. The content of this picture seems to be children playing in the ruins of a city or in an impoverished area.

The unique aspect of visuals is that the same form will generate ambiguous perceptions.

In this second photograph taken by Cartier-Bresson, form is created through the use of shadows and lines. The harsh diagonal, shadowed lines and the vertical wooden planks constructing the little shop bring the entire image together. These patterns and shapes are the elements that the viewer instantly acknowledges.

The content, on the other hand, is inferred based on the planks that hold the shop together, the bench, and the two bodies that fill the image and project curiosity onto the audience. At a quick glance, the meaning of the photo is simply a man sitting and eating food. However, the true content is of a peasant whose market has been shut down, leaving him eating alone. How the man is feeling is left for the viewer to interpret.

Every image has the potential to conjure up infinite interpretations, and this is because every individual has had different experiences, has lived in different environments, and from that, there are endless shades of perception. As Henri Cartier-Bresson once said, “In order to ‘give a meaning’ to the world, one has to feel involved in what one frames through the viewfinder.”

http://abduzeedo.com/classic-photography-henri-cartier-bresson

http://www.americansuburbx.com/2012/01/interview-henri-cartier-bresson-famous.html

http://www.dorothybarenscott.com/http/wwwdorothybarenscottcom/rothybarenscott.com/2010/10/focus-on-research-elements-of-art-form.html

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