Using Analysis of Image - Essay Example

? VISUAL ANALYSIS Introduction Any form of analysis, for instance literature, research and report analyses, utilize certain aspects as their fundamental bases in the analyses. Generally, analyses in the above listed sectors are done using image or image or image-text analyses. Poets, writers, and novelists decide to use definite and appropriate words, also known as diction, in particular works of art. Artists or authors of visual documents think no differently. For instance, designers are involved in various practices that that revolve around taking photographs laying pamphlets, and making websites. During these processes, they ensure that their work has the necessary visual appeal and is effective rhetorically. This paper will lucidly analyze the provided two photos, in A and B, and come up with the author’s intended message. Part A In the photo, is a woman dressed elegantly in a white robe, a necklace, and golden bangles. She has a white cloth with golden spots all over it. On the right hand-side of the beautiful woman is a pot of fish. There is a black cat trying to het some fish out of the pot. The cat has white spots at the mouth regions. It uses its right forward limb in the attempt to extract fish from the pot. The pot has translucent feature exposing the fish inside to the viewers. The woman is gazing directly at the viewers, an implication that the camera angle was a large one allowing for the direct and non-oblique photography (Plett, 2004 p 88). According to her dressing code, jewelries, and posture, it is arguably true that the woman has sexy or romantic look. On the other hand, she portrays some innocence in her face. Moreover, the color of her dressing suggests another aspect of love. She has a golden shiny and attractive dress. Romance, in works of arts, is always considered or depicted through the wearing or putting on of attractive and colorful dressings such as orange, yellow, and golden, like in this case. Attraction in the clothing is boosted by the attractive look on the woman’s face. The direct gaze of the woman also suggests the act or the attribute of courageousness. The framing of the photograph allowed for the full exposure of the woman’s face, while hiding other parts, especially the legs. Most people consider facial expression and outlook before being driven by sexual desires towards the opposite genders (Redding, 1987 p29). It is, therefore, conclusive that the woman has a sexually attractive face that is suggestive to the opposite sex. The author of this photo has also portrayed his excellence in the application of colors to communicate his messages to the people. To begin with, the background color in the photo is a mixture of red and black. Red is the most distributed in the photo. However, its visibility is hindered by the black color that submerged it. Red color, as stated earlier, has a symbolic meaning of love and romance (Needman, 1999 p 98). The idea of black or dark color covering it implies that the virtues of love in a given society are seriously interfered with. The fish in the pot have light red colors depicting another meaning in the photo. Red color, in artistry has two major symbolic meanings. First, it represents love as thematic concern of the photo author. Secondly, it is a color of blood, normally portraying danger, as a theme in literature. In this case, the fish in the pot are faced with the danger of death approaching them as the cat struggles to get its meal out of their bodies. The cat has a black color. Black, in works of art, depicts the theme of uncertainty and unacceptable immoral behaviors in the society. Finally, the author has also used white color; the cat’s mouth has white coloration. Coloration, in works of arts, not only gives photos attractive and visible looks, they also enhance or facilitate the author’s thematic messages to the people. In this case, bright golden color serves the purpose of enhancing the theme of love or romance in the author’s society. The submerged red color does the same. Black color is always associated with hindrance or hiding of good attributes in a given society. For instance, it has been used in the photo as a hindrance to love and romance between the societal members. The color of the cat is also black. The cat is trying to kill the fish in the pot. This idea of the cat looking forward to killing the fish is symbolic in nature; it represents the societal members who are always against the peacefulness or tranquility within a given society (Matthiassen, 1968 p 132). It is obvious from the photo that the fish belongs to the woman sitting next to the pot. From this perspective, it is arguably true that the cat is stealing from the woman. It is a symbol of evil and peace enemies in the society. Specified, the cat in the photo has been used to represent thieves in the society. The author has also shown his smartness in the application of contrast or juxtaposition in photos. The cat has two contrasting colors; black and white. White color is just a spot on the mouth of the cat. White is a color, which is always associated with peace and transparency in a given society. The use of white spot at the mouth of the cat has a symbolic meaning of pretence by evil people in the society. The woman, in the photo, has an accessory to a traditional pot. This gives the photo its historical background. The pot in the photo, literary represents the renaissance art in Europe during the 16th century. It, thus gives the photo its historical background. It shows that pottery was one of the crucial parts of art during the renaissance. Conclusively, the presence of port in the background indicates pottery as an important aspect of economic activity in the region. Besides, fish in the port also has another role of informing the viewers of fishing as an economic activity of the author. Social aspect of the society is represented by the presence of love between depicted by the woman and the already discussed color symbolism. The presence of a cat is also an indication that domestication of animals took place during the renaissance period. Keen observation of the photo reveals that it is painting done by an experienced and professional artist. This is because of the excellence in the use of expressive lines constituting to the creation of emotional aspect of the photo. The other evidence that qualifies this photo as a painting is coloration (Manas, 1965 p 76). The artist’s use of colors to depict or explain certain issues in the society is beyond what coincident photo shooting can achieve. His use of contrast and display of certain information is far much better than mere photograph taken on an occasion or event. The significance of this is to reveal the spread or the influence renaissance art had on most of the artists during the period. It facilitated their knowledge, as well as, their experience as artists. Another point to note from the photo is that the woman is carrying a baby in her arms. She has been depicted as a caring woman responsible for her child’s well being. She has covered her using her expensive clothing (Joseph, 1986 p 123). The clothing shows her high social class status in the society. This is another depiction of love and tenderness; love between the child and her mother. The racial background of the woman is shown by her skin color and the look of her face. She is a Caucasian, that is, she has European blood. Part B On viewing of the photo for the first time, one word automatically comes into an individual’s mind, racism. Skin color favoritism or racism is one of the major problems hindering developments in most nations. For instance, in nations where mixed races are not presence, it becomes or proves a hard nut to crack for any person from another race to fit well in such an environment. It started many years ago during the race to the American’s independence, and was there even during the renaissance error. In this photo, a woman is carrying a baby in her arms. The baby’s skin reveals that of a white person, whereas that of the mother reveals that of non-white, African American, or African skin. The woman is wearing red sweater has no bra, which is necessary for keeping herself from public exposure. From the first paragraph, it is very easy to establish the author’s attitude or main concern when he constituted the photo. His attitude towards the black is that of hatred. He portrays them as people who are irresponsible and do not know how to take good care of their kids. The author, through the excellent use of expressive lines, has managed to show his emotions and attitudes towards the Blacks. Expressive lines, in art are known to serve one core purpose of ensuring that the emotional aspect of any work of art is maintained and depicted, so that the viewers can easily understand (Stafford & Branston, 2010 p 129). Besides, the photo has two people from different racial backgrounds. The mother is from Black origin, whereas the kid is of white origin. The author, through the photo, informs the audience that mixing of people in peaceful manner will never be possible because of the careless natures of the Blacks (Lynch, 1965 p 66). The Blacks, according to his, do not know how to handle the whites in the necessary, gentle, and calm manner. To summarize, Blacks according to the author, lack enough knowledge and ways of dealing with the whites. The act of a Black woman breastfeeding a White kid shows the artist’s natural ability in the use of symbolism. Normally, when a kid cries and disturbs, the mother does one thing to calm him or her down, breastfeed. Without breastfeeding, there cannot be comfort in the mother unless she responds appropriately (Jewitt & Theo, 2003 p87). In this photo, it is the same case altogether. The Black woman breastfeeds the white kids to prevent him or her from making noise and interfering with her calmness and peace of the mind. From this perspective, it is arguably true that the woman represents the Blacks whereas the kid represents Whites in a similar or different society. By convention, the Whites are always associated with developed nations whereas the Blacks are still languishing in abject poverty. The Blacks, especially those from Africa, are known to be rich in resources, which are underutilized. They rely on the developed nations for their survival. The developed nations, in return, demand for these resources to make themselves richer and richer. From the previous paragraph, it is true that the artist of the photo has used the African woman keeping the White child calm by breastfeeding him, to show how the Africans are being treated by the developed nations. They use their resources as means or way of attracting donors from developed nations. The “donors” come with purpose of benefiting themselves. They do not literary donate, they exchange. In fact, they benefit more than the host does. The author has also used different colors in the photo to achieve his intended goal. There are four different colors in the photo. The first color, green with writing on it “United Colors of Benetton.” (Berke, 2007 p43). The words in quotes are of a company that specializes in the manufacture of clothes and other related materials. The author has used this to notify the viewers on the existing color distinction in the photo. The dark or black color of the woman has been used to represent the Black family, that is, the Africans in the US, UK, Africa, as well as, those in other nations. The color of the kid has been used to represent or act as symbolism to the developed nations. The red color of the dress, as stated earlier serves two main purposes; depicting love and danger in works of arts. In this case, the color has been used to show the danger faced by the Blacks by allowing the Whites to behave opportunistically towards them. Danger of suffering will set in after the exhaustion of their resources. The developed nations will undoubtedly remove their helping hands and let the poor nations struggle their own for their own survival. The exposure of the body part was meant to reveal to the viewers that the Blacks lack manners and respect to themselves. Besides, the artist has ensured that the face or the head part of the woman is not revealed or shown. In media and visual analysis, hiding of faces is meant to protect someone who may be in danger, in case his or her face is exposed to the public. Hiding of faces is also done, especially when the artist wants to expose belittlement of certain group in the society. Belittlement of a group in the society implies the act or the practice whereby la certain group based on social class, and skin color is done (Banks, 2008 p56). In this photo, the author hides the head of the Black woman in order to show her little importance to the society. He does this with a view of belittling the entire Black communities around the globe. The photo is a paint that was done by an artist. This is due to the existence of several expressive lines that serve the purpose of depicting emotion in the photo. Expressive lines are only used with drawing and painting artists. Therefore, the photo is not a picture taken on an occasion or event. It is an individual artist’s painting skills. The child, on the photo does not hesitate suckling. He does it with little effort and is comfortable. From this, it is true that racism is not an inborn attitude or practice. Were it that racism was an inborn characteristic, the kid would have not touched even the breast. Through this, the artist informs the viewers that all people are equal at the time of birth. No one has anything in mind related to the difference in skin color. Racism only develops in an individual at the time of growth and it ends up seriously affecting the growth, development, as well as, the reputation of the society, at large. The woman has no clothes to cover herself well from public exposure, as well as, covering her little child from coldness. This is an indication of extreme poverty in the Black communities compared to the White communities (Helmers, 2006 p109). The two photos, in A and B, have similarities. When compared, it is found that the woman in A is a White whereas that in B is a Black. The one in A has her baby covered thoroughly using expensive clothes, whereas in B, the woman has no clothes to cover the baby. In both, the babies are Whites. From these similarities and contrasts, it is evident that the artist of photo A had exactly opposite or contrasting theme compared to that of photo B. From the above illustrations and analyses, it is lucidly clear that most artists use photos in communicating their messages to their subjects. Analyzing the components of these photos give the detailed or the hidden information in the photo. References Banks, K, 2008, Cosmos and Image in the Renaissance: French Love Lyric and Natural Philosophical Poetry, Michigan, MHRA. Berke, D, 2007, Visual Analysis, Maryland, University of Maryland Press. Helmers, M. 2006, The Elements Of Visual Analysis. London, Pearson Longman. Jewitt, C. & Theo, G, 2003, Handbook of visual analysis, New York, NY: SAGE Publishers. Lynch, K. 1965, Visual Analysis: Community Renewal Program, Brookline, Massachusetts : an Analysis of the Visual Form of Brookline. NEW York, NY, Kevin Lynch, Planning Consultants. Joseph, R, 1986, Visual Analysis: An Empirical Evaluation of Design Guidelines for Downhill Ski Trails and Mountain Support Facilities, Kansas, Kansas State University Press. Manas, L. 1965. Visual analysis, New York, NY, SAGE Publishers. Matthiessen, F, 1968, American Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Needman, T, 1999, Visual Complex Analysis. Oxford, Oxford University Press. Plett, H, 2004, Rhetoric and Renaissance Culture, New York, NY, Walter de Gruyter. Redding, P, 1987, Visual Analysis: A Study of Physical Appearance to Determine the Anatomical Relation of Occiput Atlas and Axis, New Jersey, NJ: Doctor's Clinical Supply Company. Stafford,R, & Branston, G, 2010, The Media Student's Book, New York, NY, Taylor & Francis Read More