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VISUAL LITERACY

Visual literacy refers to the ability to understand and produce visual messages. This article explores the importance of visual literacy in our media-saturated society and how it can be incorporated into the classroom literacy program. It discusses various visual materials such as cartoons, terminologies associated with visual literacy, and the use of questions to test understanding.

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VISUAL LITERACY

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  1. VISUAL LITERACY Definition: It is said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’! In our society we are being bombarded by visual messages through the media – especially the non-print media such as television and the internet. The term Visual Literacy, therefore, refers to the ability to understand and produce visual messages. Learning experiences which allow learners to think critically about how images convey meaning should be essential inclusions in the classroom literacy programme. Visual material includes films, television programmes, pictures, photographs, cartoons, billboards and advertisements.

  2. Cartoons • Cartoons can be more than just light-hearted fun; they often reflect social trends or highlight serious issues. • A clever cartoon can have more impact than a whole article on the same subject as it can succinctly capture the essence of the issue.

  3. Terminology • Body language: the facial expressions and positioning of a person that provide non-verbal clues about their mood and attitude. • Caricature: features or actions of a person are exaggerated to help the reader work out who is being represented. E.g. Nelson Mandela may be drawn in a Madiba shirt or Prince Charles may be drawn with big ears. • Intention: what is the cartoonist trying to achieve? Is the cartoon meant to amuse, make a political statement, or ridicule someone?

  4. Terminology • Irony: When one thing is said, but something else is meant. • Parody: An imitation of a piece of writing used to ridicule the original or create a satirical point. • Satire: Uses humour to make a serious point. It involves using wit, irony or sarcasm to highlight human vices or follies.

  5. Terminology • Stereotypes: An exaggerated preconceived generalisation about the typical behaviour, attitudes, dress, etc. of various types of people. • Verbal clues: some parts of the drawing may be used to help the reader establish what the cartoon is about. • Visual metaphor: in a metaphor two things are compared. In a visual metaphor, a picture stands for or represents something else.

  6. Terminology • Speech bubble: Or a line between the speaker and the words to indicate who is speaking. • Thought bubble: look like clouds – indicate unspoken thoughts. • Caption: title, brief explanation or comment accompanying and illustration.

  7. Terminology • Comic strip: sequences of drawings telling a humorous or adventurous story – found in newspapers, etc. • Frame: one drawing in a comic strip. • Movement: indicated by means of vertical, curved and diagonal lines. Speedy action is indicated by streaky lines, or by the action going out of the frame. • Punctuation: clever use is made of punctuation to create meaning.

  8. Questions Questions set on cartoons may test the following concepts: • The intention of the cartoonist • Explaining why the situation is humorous • Bias, prejudice and stereotypes • Slang • Americanisms • Contractions • Spoken register as opposed to written register • Proverbs, idioms, sayings

  9. Questions • Figures of speech: personification, paradox, pun, irony, etc. • Literal and figurative use of language • Fact and opinion • Appeals to the senses • Sound effects: alliteration, onomatopoeia • Play on words • Direct and indirect speech • Active and passive voice

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