We started the lecture by rating our knowledge of visual literacy out of 10. Visual literacy is the ability to think through, think about and think with pictures. We were told that people start life as visually literate; children start life learning from pictures and images, they can very quickly adapt to new technologies, such as phones and tablets, because you learn by seeing. You're born visually literate, but schools teach children read and written literacy.
Visuals are a timeless source of communications, images from prehistoric times and from ancient civilisations give us an insight to the workings of their communities. It is also a way of communicating universally - images can cross language barriers; signs and warnings can be easily perceived and understood by almost everyone.
Pictures and images can, and throughout history have been used to express emotion. Art allows people to express what they are feeling, the artist themselves can use the process of making work to let out their emotions, and the viewer of art can also use art to express what they feel or have felt.
Prevalent visual formats include; mobile phones, the internet, television, books, posters, advertisements, clothing, cinema, galleries, road signs, maps, memes and timelines.
We were shown two pieces of art and given a task to answer; 'what is going on in this picture?', 'what do I see that makes me say that?' and to state some keys words which you think of when you look at this image. Then to discuss with others to compare and contrast our personal views.
The first was Jackson Pollock's 'Number 14' made in 1951. I saw a mixture of strange faces among his abstract shapes and brushstrokes. Others also saw different human faces, as well as animals and various creatures.
The second was 'The Birth of Venus' (C. 1486) by Sandro Botticelli. As it is realist piece, it is much easier to describe than the Pollock piece. Venus has just emerged, she is being blown to shore by two angels. A woman is coming to meet her on the shore side with a robe to clothe her.
After that we were shown an image, taken from the early stages of desegregation in the US. It shows a young black girl walking to school wearing smart clothes and sunglasses, carrying her books. She is being followed by another girl who is clearly shouting abuse at her and angry that she is joining the school. We were told to view the image for one minute, then from our memories, sketch out the image after. What you drew picked up on the key aspects of image; the clothing the girls wore gave an insight into their personalities, the first girl carries books and wears sunglasses which shows she cares about her education and wants to hide her feelings.
(Image taken by Will Count).
