Week 013-Module Visual Information and Media PDF

Media and Information Literacy 1 Visual Information and Media Module 010 – Visual Information and Media At the end of this module, you will be abl...

Media and Information Literacy 1 Visual Information and Media Module 010 – Visual Information and Media At the end of this module, you will be able to: 1. Define visual information and media 2. Identify the different types of visual information 3. Determine how visual information and media are produced, organized and disseminated 4. Evaluate the quality of visual presentations Visual Information Magpile (2016) defined visual information as “the artistic and creative representation or interpretation of an idea, concept or emotion using different media.” The appreciation and evaluation of visual information relies on the sense of sight the most. Through visual representations, the message is conveyed in a way that can be easily remembered. An article by Babber (2014), that tackles the whys and hows of creating “snackable” content, has quoted Dr. Lynell Burmark, Ph.D. in a study which showed that humans are inherently ‘visually wired.’ In the same study by Burmark, they have concluded that almost 50% of the brain is involved in visual processing, 70% of a person’s sensory receptors are in the eyes and at 0.01 seconds, we can get the sense of a visual scene. Hence, it would be easier for us to grasp the content of visual information than any other type of information. The same article has cited an article in Forbes that showed the boost in views for websites with the visual impact. Therefore, it is an effective way of engaging and attracting people with humans being natural visual learners, experiencers and beings. Types of visual information Visual information comes in many forms and sizes. The following types of visual information are presented in various ways: 1. Painting – the term painting may refer to the act of applying paint or other medium to a surface with the use of a brush or the product of this activity. The earliest dated paintings are from the Upper Paleolithic period, or about 40,000 to 10,000 years ago. The earliest paintings are done mostly on cave walls where the medium used is usually colored earth materials rubbed onto the rough surface of rocks making up the wall. The subject of these early paintings are mainly animals but there are some that depict humans. The surfaces used for paintings evolved from rock surfaces to building walls, paper, wood, cloth before the canvas. The pigments used for painting have evolved in time as well, from earths and minerals to plant extracts of different colors. Course Module Waves on the Hudson River, Yayoi Kusama (1988). Retrieved from: https://www.wikiart.org/en/yayoi-kusama/waves-on-the-hudson-river-1988 The subjects of paintings have also expanded over the years and these works have depicted various aspects of life through different genres. The messages in paintings usually lie in its subjects, the medium used, the style of the artist and the symbols in the painted image itself. Nowadays, paintings are displayed in exhibits with rows of different paintings of a single or multiple artists. One example of a painting that has been interpreted many ways is The Parisian Life by Juan Luna. The image is that of a woman sitting on a sofa inside a café in Paris. She is said to be a courtesan or prostitute that represents “fallen womanhood,” while the three gentlemen captured on the other side are three significant people in the history of the Philippines. They are said to be the images of Luna, Jose Rizal and Ariston Bautista Lin. The image is also interpreted as the graphic representation of the Philippine archipelago with the shape of the woman leaning against the sofa.  Media and Information Literacy 3 Visual Information and Media The Parisian Life by Juan Luna. (1892) Retrieved from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/The_Parisian_Life_by_Juan_L una.jpg/320px-The_Parisian_Life_by_Juan_Luna.jpg on September 27, 2017 2. Photos/Images – image is defined by Merriam Webster as “a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person or thing in solid form,” while photo is a “picture or likeness obtained by photography.” Photos and images come in various colors. These are easily obtained, especially nowadays, with the emerging of smartphones with cameras, making it easier for people with smartphones to view and take photos. Images may either be printed out or viewed through digital means. The interpretation of images and photos depend mostly on its technical style and the use of colors. 3. Sculpture – this term is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the action or art of processing plastic or hard materials into works of art.” These works are commonly three-dimensional. Some of the most famous sculptures in the Philippines is the Oblation in University of the Philippines, made by the Filipino artist, Guillermo E. Tolentino, which is of a man with his arms outstretched at his sides, and his face turned upwards. This is said to mean a selfless offering of oneself to his country. This work of art was done through Rafael Palma’s request of a depiction of the second verse of Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios, that goes: In fields of battle, deliriously fighting, Others give you their lives, without doubt, without regret; Where there’s cypress, laurel or lily, On a plank or open field, in combat or cruel martyrdom, If the home or country asks, it's all the same--it matters not. Course Module  The Oblation by Guillermo E. Tolentino. Retrieved from: http://wpc.e0ad.edgecastcdn.net/00E0AD/images/the-philippine- star/headlines/20141027/up-diliman-bomb-threat-college-of-business-administration.jpg on September 27, 2017 4. Cartoon/Comic Strip – these are two-dimensional illustrations that are either animated or printed. Comic strips are illustrations that are done on paper wherein a story develops by connecting panels of illustrations. Cartoons, on the other hand, are animated digitally to create a story with moving characters. One of the most popular comic strips today is Kikomachine Komix series by Manix Abrera, depicting relatable experiences of a Filipino: Self Discovery vs. Naney! by Manix Abrera. Retrieved from: http://www.manix- abrera.com/portfolio/self-discovery-vs-naney/ on September 27, 2017  Media and Information Literacy 5 Visual Information and Media 5. Graphs/Charts – these are visual representations of statistics and other information. These are mostly used for quantitative researches as they contain large amount of information in an understandable format. The most important points are highlighted in graphs and charts as visual representation of data. The Evaluation Research Team’s article on Using Graphs and Charts to Illustrate Quantitative Data identified the two types of data to consider in creating graphs and charts: the categorical data and the continuous data. Categorical data are information that are “grouped into non-overlapping categories.” Continuous data, on the other hand, “are measured on a scale or continuum.” a. Bar graph – categories or groups of data are represented by bars with the height portraying the quantity in the category. It is one of the best ways to show the comparison between multiple categories. What kind of pet do you own? Retrieved from: http://getwordwall.com/Attachments/Screenshots/Play/bar-graph.png on September 27, 2017 Course Module b. Line graph – this type of graph shows the relationship between multiple types of information. This graph is especially useful for time-stamped data. Visit to two new music sites on the web. Retrieved from: http://www.ielts- mentor.com/images/writingsamples/line-graph-thumb/visits-to-two-new-music- sites.png on September 27, 2017 c. Pie chart – this type of chart is circular in shape, resembling a pie divided into slices of categories. This shows the comparison of each part and how much they contribute to form a whole. Top Categories of New Year’s Resolution. Retrieved from: https://canvasjs.com/wp- content/uploads/images/gallery/javascript-pie-charts/new-year-resolution.jpg on September 27, 2017 d. Histogram – just like bar graphs, a histogram is illustrated by connected bars to show frequency of cases falling within defined columns. This can be used to measure continuous data.  Media and Information Literacy 7 Visual Information and Media Heights of Black Cherry Trees. Retrieved from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Black_cherry_tree_histogr am.svg/220px-Black_cherry_tree_histogram.svg.png on September 27, 2017 6. Billboard and Poster – these are illustrations or images, or text on images printed in large sizes that aim to promote, announce, inform, or persuade the public. These are mostly used for advertisements and announcements targeting a huge amount of audience. Coca-Cola Billboard. Retrieved from: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9KoIApc1RQ/TyYRa6Qt- TI/AAAAAAAAD6w/Xb1GBbztqpA/s1600/CocaCola+Tansan+Billboard+1.jpg on September 27, 2017 Course Module Visual Information Processing If we remember 80% of what we see and do, it is only natural that we learn more through visual information than any other type of information. Evaluation of the variety of visual information is needed to gauge its credibility and reliability as a source of information. The following criteria for evaluation of visual information is enumerated by Magpile (2016): Evaluation of visual information 1. Use of color – visual information come in different colors and the kind used to create a visual representation must be analyzed to know what the theme and subject is and what it is trying to convey. One example of this is the color/s used in creating logos that show what emotion the company or the product is trying to convey by using it. The image below is an infographic provided by the Daily Infographic: Color Emotion Guide. Retrieved from: http://www.dailyinfographic.com/wp- content/uploads/2013/01/Color_Emotion_Guide22-640x560.png on September 27, 2017 2. Use of medium – aside from colors, the medium used in creating the visual information is vital in analyzing its message. It is shown in the incorporation of other materials and how the material was presented. The kind of medium adds value to the message of the media and creates more impact to the public.  Media and Information Literacy 9 Visual Information and Media 3. Level of creativity – visual information, as it relies on the sense of sight, is gauged by its level of creativity and artistic sense and how it can capture the audience’s attention. Creativity in presenting visual information is important in getting people to view it. 4. Choice of subject – the choice of subject in the visual information presented determines how the audience interprets or reacts to the work as they are at the receiving end of the visual information. This may either portray the artist or creator’s intentions for creating it and the feelings behind its creation. 5. Choice of theme or message – behind each element in a visual information is a message that the creator is letting the people indirectly receive. According to Magpile (2016), timely messages are considered significant because it can influence people to act and move towards something that will prove to be beneficial to the society. References and Supplementary Materials Books and Journals Magpile, Christine Marie; 2016; Media and Information Literacy (Enhancing Education through Effective Communication); Intelligente Publishing Inc. Online Supplementary Reading Materials Using Graphs and Charts to Illustrate Quantitative Data; https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/evaluation/pdf/brief12.pdf; September 27, 2017 Painting; http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/painting; September 27, 2017 Mysteries behind Luna’s “The Parisian Life”, revealed; http://old.ilocosnorte.gov.ph/mysteries-behind-lunas-the-parisian-life-revealed/; September 27, 2017 The Why and How of Creating ‘Snackable’ Content; https://vwo.com/blog/snackable- content/?utm_content=buffer2475f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm _campaign=buffer; September 27, 2017 3 Types of Visual Information We Use Every Day, And Why They Work; https://medium.com/i-love-charts/3-types-of-visual-information-we-use-everyday-and- why-they-work-2ac85ecc87f0; September 27, 2017 Online Instructional Videos Graphs and Charts; http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/topic/graphs-and-charts; September 27, 2017 Course Module