Links Between Multimodal Literacy And Cultural Practices - Report Example

Reflect report Institution: Name: LINKS BETWEEN MULTIMODAL LITERACY AND CULTURAL PRACTICES In the present day visually oriented culture, most prints feature drawings, photographs, text designs and innovative page layout to achieve persuasive effect. Visuals and page layouts can enhance ethos, pathos, logos by clarifying or supporting an argument. Use of type/font In choosing the type, it is important to put into consideration the front style or typeface, the formatting options and the size of the type. The major type fonts or faces are classified as san serif, serif and specialty type (Ambrose & Harris, 2007). There are various basic principles for selecting type for visual texts that can assist you achieve overall goals for suitability, readability and visual appeal. First, if you designing an advocacy advertisement or a poster, it is important to decide on the quantity of the images and words to be displayed. For the text portions, opt for specialty fonts for headings, slogans and titles and for the longer passages choose text or body type font. Additionally, make the type functional and appealing by applying two or three font styles per every document (Ambrose & Harris, 2007). Use of layout or space Another important component of the visual design is the layout or space. Spacing or layout means: the type of the paper and the page size, the proportion of the texts to the graphics and images. Another thing is the arrangement of the texts on the page to include columns, justification of margins, margins, space in addition to space between paragraphs. However, there are principles that are used in laying out parts of a given visual text. First, it is important to select a layout that avoids confusion and clutter by limiting the amount of visual items and texts put on a page. Secondly, it is important to focus on creating meaning as well as coherence with the layout chosen. It is also important to develop a structuring or ordering principle which clarifies the relationship that exists among different parts of the text. Use of color Color is another important element in visual design. This is because it contributes to the visual appeal of a given text hence assists in conveying the meaning. In considering use of color in the visual texts/arguments, genre conventions control the applications. For example, in academic texts, color is minimally used while in popular magazines, color is applied lavishly. Color choices in visual texts is often essential including the choice of making an image white and black. Word/character spacing Problems associated with word and character spacing concern justified text. Wrong spacing as well as spacing that changes from line to line is a major problem in the text. They disturb both the visual appearance of the whole text as well as the text readability. However, in the justified text, the lines must be long even if the contents of every row remains different. This is because the numbers of words and letter spacing varies between the text lines and some letters are usually wider than others. The basic idea in the character spacing is that it is important for the distance of the numbers, letters as well as other keyboard characters has to be consistent in the whole text. The use of a border or line within a page(s), text, tables (and cells), graphic objects, and pictures can increase interest to your presentation and emphasize information within your document. Book Borders The use of borders on a text, page, graphic objects, tables as well as pictures gives provides your presentation with a unique interest. Additionally, borders can emphasize certain/particular information within a text or document. There are various instances that the use of book borders can be a great addition to the text. For example, for students who are preparing a research paper, a book border on the coversheet will not only add color but also eye-catching design to the presentation. Another examples is on the designing business cards using the word template too, use of book borders will give your business immediate attention as well as add focus and distinction (Ambrose & Harris, 2007). Consequently, placing a border around a paragraph or a text is one of the ways of highlighting that important information within the document. Therefore, it is important for one to select as well as design a border that will put emphasis on the part you want to focus on (Dabner, 2003). To put a border around a given paragraph or the whole text, you should select the text or paragraph within your document and follow the same procedure, as you would be inserting page borders from the border/shading window. From this point, it is advisable for one to click on the on the tab and select the right border to wrap the chosen text/paragraph. It is essential to take note that from the borders tab, one should review the section with the window for the ‘’apply to’’ in order to make sure that the text is well placed around the paragraph or text (Dabner, 2003). Styling the background Adding a nice and unique background is one of the best ways of styling a text/document. Therefore, by decorating a given text body background, then no doubt you are styling the text. However, it is important to note that styling the background can make the text to be visually beautiful as well as minimize legibility. This seem to be a big problem, but it can be easily avoidable. Good Margins It is always important to make use of the white space in order to enhance readability. White space actually assist draw the eyes of the user to the text. The white space or the blank area makes the eye to focus on the text. Therefore, the white space has some influence on the flow as well as on the readability of the content. One of the elements of the white space is margins. Margins on either sides of a text will force the user eye to focus mainly on the core content of the document. Margins are further important because they support a text by separating the content from the other parts of the design layout (Dabner, 2003). ANALYSIS OF THE TEXT The balance existing between the visual and verbal elements in a given advocacy advertisement varies. Some advocacy adverts features verbal concepts only will all the visual concerns based on the design of the document. Other advocacy adverts make use of visual, incorporating images as well as other design elements (Dabner, 2003). The figure 1 is an illustration public advocacy advertisement that aims to counter the growing campaigns of the pro-life movement against abortion. The Planned Parenthood Responsible Choices Action Network sponsors the advert. The advert featured in most liberal magazines in the US. It is evident that the advert hard two key audiences in mind. The first is those already committed to the Pro-choice message and the advert urges them to take the necessary action. The second audience is those individuals who neutral but may support the rights of women and lack a good stand on the issue of abortion (Haslam, 2006). The advert in the figure features a one stark image. A question mark features a hook of a coat hanger. The reader’s eyes/ attention is drawn to the typing below the text. The hanger hook has a high percentage of the argument. The image of the hanger is simple, harsh and bold. This not only tapes the cultural knowledge of the reader but also evokes the dangerous experience related to illegal abortions that are carried out by non-medical and cruel people in the backstreets. The adverts main agenda is to pass a message on the dangerous strategies that desperate women resort to when they fail to obtain legal abortion (Masterson, 2005). From the image, it is evident that the hanger itself creates a visual pun among the readers. Coming out as a question mark, it illustrates the dilemma of the advertiser incase abortions are made illegal. As a coat hanger, the advert provides an very frightening answer to the bold printed question. Any desperate woman will resort to backstreet abortionists who mainly make use of coat hangers as their tools of operation. Another indirect question that the advert implies is, will you assist in preventing the bleak results/outcome? Therefore, the aim of the advert is to motivate individuals the public to take the necessary actions by contacting the organization through the website or phone number provided below the advert (Graham, 2005). Finally, another important element to note from the advert is how the word responsible comes out well centered in the final part of the text below the coat hanger question tag. The main intent of the organization is to convey the responsible position on this particular issue is to ensure that abortion is not only safe and legal but also available so that women do not resort to backstreet abortions that endanger their lives. What role does film/media play in promoting stereotypes? There are visual texts and images everywhere and viewers/readers voluntarily register these images/visual texts in their minds. The visual texts/images play very important role such as informing, entertaining and instilling values to the viewers/readers. However, the effects are based on the stereotypes that are incorporated into the messages to promote products also refer to us propaganda. It is through the messages that various ideologies are created. For example, the media not only propagates but also promotes a given image of different gender representations. The television and magazine adverts mainly perpetuate traditional stereotypes of both men and women. Femininity as well as masculinity is defined and restricted by the boundaries those different images create in the media. The images are so spread and presented in a manner that they become the norm of the society should be. To some extent, the created media images create as well as re-create the society. For example, in the past women were perceived as stereotypical housewives. However, this was changed by the women’s movement and media portrayal of the same. However, the since the movement as well as the media has changed the role of women in the society, women are represented as objects. They are also perceived as inferior and weak compared to their male counterparts. The media further represent women as merely something that should be looked at and not as intelligent beings. Most images in magazines as well as other forms of media reinforce stereotypical conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Males are presented in the woman magazines in cigarette or cologne advertisements or as mere spectators. Therefore, it can be argued that all forms of media portray sex-role stereotypes and this makes the society to follow on the constructed ideology. How can we combat gender stereotyping with children? It is important for the adults to avoid seeing the world in blue and pink when they give birth to their first children. It is important for the parents to open their mind to the idea that the two genders can appreciate diverse colors. Secondly, it is important to point out the aspect of sexism to the children. For example, in toys, commercial programs, book and television programme. More importantly, encourage the children to challenge whatever they are told to become. It is also important not to discourage children to take part in some activities based on their gender. For example, girls too can climb trees and it is important to let them know that they have same rights as boys. Therefore, it is important to allow for reasonable freedom even in circumstances that the given freedom contravenes all the unwritten social norms. In conclusion, it is important for adults to encourage all the positive traits that are manifested in one gender and make the children to cultivate the same during the outdoor activities. How visual texts/images position us as the viewers/readers The use of type positions the viewer to focus on the message of visual text. Type/font is an important element in the written media. Variations in type such as italics, boldface, size or all caps can direct the attention of the reader to the structure of the text as well as assist in highlighting the main points in the text. In texts that are specifically meant for visual impact such as advocacy advertisements or posters, type in most cases is utilized in meaningful and eye-catching ways. Furthermore, the visual images make the viewer to be critical in thinking as well as making them to pay a lot of attention to the visual image. Finally, use of graphics and images, graphics and images can powerfully condense important information into memorable and striking visuals in addition to clarifying ideas and adding liveliness, depth and emotion to the whole text (Ambrose & Harris, 2007). References Ambrose, G., & Harris, P. (2007). The layout book. Lausanne: AVA Academia. Batsford. Dabner, D. (2003). Design and layout: Understanding and using graphics. London: El Sobrante, Calif: Aeonix Pub. Group. Graham, L. (2005). Basics of design: Layout and typography for beginners. Clifton Park, Haslam, A. (2006). Book design. London: Laurence King. Hurlburt, A. (1999). Layout: The design of the printed page. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. Masterson, P. (2005). Book design and production: A guide for authors and publishers. N.Y: Thomson/Delmar Learning. Read More