A popular contemporary graffiti artist, Banksy, creates intriguing and intricate designs for public display on regular and everyday streets. His rising popularity serves as a catalyst for the renowned importance of the attainability of visual literacy. Visual literacy is the ability to understand and interpret the message of a visual image or object, and having this skill is becoming increasingly important in todays culture. According to Zemliansky, the first crucial step towards developing visual literacy is to treat visual messages as text and arguments. Although the message of most visual images are ambiguous, it is still logical to surmise that different ideas can stem from one image because of our varying perception due to varying experiences, …show more content…
The intended audience is who the author wants to get the message across to, and the context is how the current culture will be able to interpret this image. The audience of this image is most likely any person of any age who happens to stop at this image and examine it. The picture shows 3 different people of varying ages who have either never seen a Bansky image or have seen one, which in a larger spectrum also could represent the worldly population as a whole for his intended audience. The context of this image is the culture in which people live in today, where Banksy images are now popular and are now more easily to be read and interpreted, as opposed to someone who is older and has more trouble interpreting a controversial image that is becoming much more famous in today’s …show more content…
At a logical level, this image most likely will resonate with someone who is able to understand the purpose behind the message or someone who is familiar with Banksy’s work. As portrayed in the image, the elderly man, who probably not aware with Banksy’s rising popularity, seems be having more difficulty trying to find the purpose and logic behind the image rather than the two younger individuals. Nevertheless, he is still intrigued by the image, which validates the logical aspect of the image. This claim can also be tied with the emotional level of the image. The two younger men seem to be accepting of the image, while the old man seems to be struggling to find meaning. People who accept the image probably have an easier time assessing their emotions rather than someone who has never seen an image as controversial as the images that Banksy creates. The ethical level of the image is once again portrayed by the body language of the individuals. Because of the provocative style of most Banksy images, some children might get scared or confused when they those drawings, which could ultimately explain why the man seems to be holding the child close to him. The elderly individual has his hand on his chin which is another indicator of interest, and ultimately does not seem to have any view on the ethnical aspect of the
Having such an image before our eyes, often we fail to recognize the message it is trying to display from a certain point of view. Through Clark’s statement, it is evident that a photograph holds a graphic message, which mirrors the representation of our way of thinking with the world sights, which therefore engages other
Though most works of art have some underlying, deeper meaning attached to them, our first impression of their significance comes through our initial visual interpretation. When we first view a painting or a statue or other piece of art, we notice first the visual details – its size, its medium, its color, and its condition, for example – before we begin to ponder its greater significance. Indeed, these visual clues are just as important as any other interpretation or meaning of a work, for they allow us to understand just what that deeper meaning is. The expression on a statue’s face tells us the emotion and message that the artist is trying to convey. Its color, too, can provide clues: darker or lighter colors can play a role in how we judge a piece of art. The type of lines used in a piece can send different messages. A sculpture, for example, may have been carved with hard, rough lines or it may have been carved with smoother, more flowing lines that portray a kind of gentleness.
Viewing a work of art is a multidimensional phenomenon. There is the primary act of looking, wherein one sees a combination of shapes and lines and can immediately identify it as a familiar object. For example, the red, rounded figure on the table in a given painting, whose circumference lessens towards its bottoms and which protrudes a thin, brown stem from its top, is fairly quickly identifiable to the viewer as an apple. However, there is a level of looking at art that is secondary to this, which was notably commented on by German art historian Erwin Panofsky. Artists use certain visual motifs that refer to a theme or concept -- which Panofsky refers to as an image. The study of these images, alone and in collection, is what the historian uses to define iconographic analysis or, in more simple terms, iconography. By understanding the ideas that are denoted by the imagery in art, the viewer is better able to understand the meaning of the artwork itself.
Benjamin argues that the original meaning of art is no longer the same. Due to technological innovations, the original meaning of images is skewed, and “in the age of pictorial reproduction the meaning of paintings is no longer attached to them; their meanings becomes transmittable…When a painting is put to use its meaning is either modified or totally changed” (Benjamin 24). Art evolves with time and technology, causing a shift in value and function. This evolution of art reinforces the reciprocal relationship between art and society and, furthermore, art’s ability to modify the way in which we view the
Art is a language of its own and with out he proper understanding, people are like expression goes “left on the outside looking in”. In other words, people without the proper understanding of art, technique and form as well as other elements can’t appreciate a work of art as much as when you understand why an artist painted in the way they did and what they are trying to get across to his audience. Despite artists attempts to try and make their works as viewer friendly as possible, without the understanding and knowledge gained from an art class as this one people will never fully understand the a work of art as it is meant to be.
Though people can look into color and composition, others can still even look into the source of the art itself. Cole goes deeper, delving into the source of the art, looking in particular into the idea of cultural appropriation and the view a person can give others. Though it is good for people to be exposed to different opinions of a group or an object, sometimes people can find it difficult to tell the difference between the reality and the art itself. Sometimes art can be so powerful that its message stays and impacts its audience to the point where the viewer’s image of the subject of the art changes entirely. Cole brings up an important question about art, however. Art has become some kind of media for spreading awareness and even wisdom at times, but in reality, “there is also the question of what the photograph is for, what role it plays within the economic circulation of images” (973). Cole might even be implying that Nussbaum’s advertisement can sometimes be the point of some media, and that sometimes the different genres of art can just be to make someone with a particular interest happy. One more point that Cole makes is that “[a]rt is always difficult, but it is especially difficult when it comes to telling other people’s stories.” (974) Truthfully, awareness and other like-concepts are difficult to keep going when a person or a group is not directly involved.
Critical thinking is a very important aspect to understanding art. As David Perkins put it in “The Intelligent Eye”, we must avoid “experimental thinking”, a rash, quick way of thinking based on observations and use “reflective intelligence”, a way of thinking in which a viewer takes their time and dissects details and nuances to fully understand a work of art. A majority of viewers will look at a piece of art and come to a quick analysis of it, without much thought. But, according to Perkins, “The more attentive the observation is, the better the opportunity is for deeper learning” (Perkins 14). As Banksy said in Exit Through the Gift Shop, “the reaction to the work of art is the most important thing about it.” Without a reaction or an opinion, the work of art has no meaning. Therefore, in order to trul...
Our world as we knew it changed in 1992, the first official smartphone was introduced. Over the past decade cell phones have managed to endorse themselves and gradually becoming part of our lives and is illustrated in Angel Boligan’s Winner in Football Section cartoon and in Banksy Mobile Lovers painting. The Boligan cartoon set the theme for Banksy Mobile Lovers by introducing a setting that demonstrates our younger generation now. The Banksy Mobile Lovers then illustrates our young generation all grown up and matured lacking an immense amount of life and color.
A large portion of his work can be found in busy cities, such as London and New York. His classic mediums consist of concrete city walls, stencils, and spray paint. There aren’t many vetted sources that tell the story of who he is, where he is from, or any substantial information about him. One is only left to assume his passions, which we derive from his art. His piece, “Girl With Balloon,” was meant to be viewed by those who have lost or are losing hope. The city wall that holds this piece of art is not well kept, spray painted in what is likely an area that is impoverished and full of dying hopes and dreams. Banksy’s purpose is found in the eye-catching heart-shaped red balloon that is followed by the portrayed innocence of a young girl reaching towards love and hope, and of course the statement behind it, says it all on it’s own; no matter what the circumstances, don’t give up – don’t lose hope. This image is meant to bring about desire for a new way of living, and certainly the aspect of finding hope. A child will most likely be drawn to the red balloon and portrait of themselves, whereas the adult will be drawn to the saying behind the portrait. Parents will be more inclined to feed their children positivity, potentially go after their own dreams and find their own meaning and remember the words that go along with the picture, whereas children are likely to remember the picture and what it
Unlike science, art is subjective. The artist leaves behind a part of himself in his work. Therefore, each piece has its own distinct perspective. Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits show her view on her life, on how she has faced so many struggles, yet managed to be a strong person. When we see or hear or read an artistic creation, it produces a mood such as calm or loud, fear or safety. For example, the Eiffel Tower gives Paris a majestic awe; everyone who passes by feels the strength of the 113-year-old grand structure. Art also has a texture. Photographs reveal much through their textures; grainy surfaces often make the picture more realistic while smooth ones seem softer. When we hear a piece of music or see a film, a rhythm carries us from one part to another. Not just true for these two genres, rhythm is present in any artistic work. These few properties are characteristic of everything we encounter in the world of art, the world of human expression. Most have other special features also. Most of the time, though, we do not think about these characteristics because we do not have enough time to pay attention to anything for more than a few seconds.
Banksy has enough money to use spaces, like art galleries, legally, but instead still chooses to use some of the only spaces spaces that teenagers have access to, and therefore need more than him. In “Banksy: The $20 Million Graffiti Artist Who Doesn 't Want His Art To Be Worth Anything,” Danielle Rahm touches upon Banksy being an outsider to the graffiti community by stating: “Banksy is not in need of money, unlike many of the street artists he identifies with.” Not only does Banksy not need the money that he is getting from capitalizing off of New York’s graffiti culture, as Rahm says “he is estimated to have a net worth upwards of $20 million.” Banksy has made more than a middle class person, and significantly more by having the privilege
Visual Literacy can be defined as a way of using sight to evaluate, apply or create. Education, art history, art criticism, philosophy, graphic designers and more use the term “visual literacy” to mean different things. The term is widely contested. Wikipedia defines it as “the ability to interpret negotiate, and make meaning, from information presented in the form of an image.” There are many definitions used to define the term and all are lacking. No one definition will suffice to encompass the whole definition.
In 2005 there was a gay pride parade in Jerusalem, which was attacked by protesters. During this hate crime these protesters stabbed three parade goers and injured many more. Many people believe that this was Banksy’s response to the event, especially because Banksy is known for being a pacifist. Since the bouquet is the only piece of the painting in color it can be seen as symbolic of the gay pride flag. In addition to being located near the hate crime, the area in general has a strong military presence so clearly Banksy had his audience in mind. He is making a statement in all of his pieces of art as a political activist to stop the hate around the world,
“In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay. Moreover, unless it wants to break faith with its social function, art must show the world as changeable. And help to change it.” This quote by Ernst Fischer, a German composer, means that truth in art exposes the parts of society, and of life, that no one wants to see. In order for art to change society, it must first reflect the fears and failures of its people. The artist can change how people think of themselves and the world by using less conventional methods of creating art. The artist, in doing this, introduces new ideas of human placement in time and space, new frontiers of thought, that are furthered by the disciplines of science and philosophy. The artist works to introduces unique- and sometimes offensive- ideas so that society will be exposed to new ways of thinking and understanding the world. The artist does this through experimentation with color, style, and form. Therefore, the purpose of the artist should be to challenge how individuals perceive themselves and the offensive aspects of society reflected in art to bring about innovations in the greater society.
I was interested particularly in doing graphics design and the visual communication that I was inspired by combining images phrases and ideas to illustrate to the target and audience so that they would impact and react on those kind of illustrated for e.g. the billboards, poster, the product packaging and lots of more advertisement there. There are lots of elements on different types of media that I have already mentioned but there are also examples like Logos which really encourage people and make those people to think about logos. There are also lots of books designs and magazines advertisements thinking from these graphics design use of socially, morally ethical thinking mainly it happens when people do mostly think about positively and negatively so it would affect people’s mind and they would think more in detailed meaning which is called graphical visual communication, to demonstrate the recycle logo which would be advertise the recycling of ‘trees hunger and suffer do recycle paper’.