Developing Visual Literacy
Introduction:
Look around you and chances are likely that you will find some sort of visual art form. It may be a graphic design, commercial advertisement, architectural structure, or even a tattoo! Example: Australian Museum: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Body-Art (Links to an external site.)
Art, Artists, Critics, Art Historians, and Viewers of art all play an integral role in the visual arts world. This “role” has been highly debated over the centuries. Refer to instructor’s materials to discover diverse roles of an artist, as well as the importance of a viewer’s perception of art. Resource: Stanford University, “Panelist’s Discuss Role of Art in a changing society”, 9/30/91, Stanford University. All Rights Reserved. Stanford, CA 94305. (650) 723-2300.http://news.stanford.edu/pr/91/910930Arc1146.html (Links to an external site.)
By Accurately Identifying, Interpreting, Analyzing, and Evaluating specific components of a composition, you will have a better understanding of, and perhaps appreciation for, the Visual Arts!
Components of a Composition:
Identification Information: Artist, Title, Date, Media/Technique, Dimensions, Location (original or current)
Subject Matter: What you see depicted in an art form, such as a portrait, landscape, still-life, genre..
Subject Matter Depiction: (Representational, Non-Representational, Abstract)
Theme: Overriding Universal Concepts
Spiritual / Religious
Life Cycle (Birth, Death, Re-Birth)
Love & Sex
Body, Gender, Identity
Individual and/or Cultural Identity
Power (or lack thereof)
Science and/or Technology and/or Environment
Subcategories of Overriding Universal Concepts (specific themes)
Formal Presentation Method(s)/Characteristics (choice of title, media, technique, visual elements, principles of design)
Icons/Iconography (icons/images/symbols & their meaning)
Content (meaning/story line)
Purpose/Function (Why a composition was created in the first place or its current role)
Patron (whom commissions or owns composition)
Historical time period (including artist’s biography & prominent styles)
Role of the Artist: (4 Major Categories)
Visual Record (of time period, place, people, events…)
Help Viewer See World in New or Innovative Ways
Imbue Functional/Utilitarian Objects & Architectural Structures With Meaning
Give Form to the Immaterial (Hidden or Universal Truths, Spiritual Forces, Personal Feelings…)
Instructor’s Materials & Assignments:
Your instructor’s Introduction & Presentation Materials introduce pertinent concepts to provide an overview of course material, as well as assist you with the ultimate goal of accurately identifying, interpreting, analyzing, and even critiquing a visual art form’s composition, within historical context. Curriculum is designed to give you an opportunity to apply Research, Writing, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaborative, and Interpersonal Skills necessary to meet the learning objectives & goals set for this course by the HCCS Art Department. Similar course content can be found, online, as well as in an Art Appreciation course textbook.
After completing activities & assignments featured in this particular Module, you should be able to define the term “Visual Literacy”, explain what it means to you, as well as discuss with your peers how you plan to help others (as well as yourself) obtain this pertinent life skill. Reading module contents, performing research, as well as sharing your newly discovered knowledge with the class, will assist you with obtaining this goal!
hearListen To The Experts!
A few ways to discern the “value” of a composition includes a close examination of items featured in the above paragraphs. Why is “Art” valuable to you, or not? Why might it be valuable (intrinsic, extrinsic, or both) to our society? Listen to the Experts to find out!
Below are a series of links to videos and readings that discuss topics related to Module #1 material:
Why look at Art? (Links to an external site.) (Khan Academy video)
Why is this Art? (Links to an external site.)(Khan Academy video)
Image result for book animated gifUseful Resources:
Encyclopedia of Art: A-Z Art Terms: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/art-glossary-of-terms.htm (Links to an external site.)
HCCS Library Catalogue (Online Research, including Saskia Digital Repository of Images): http://librus.hccs.edu/Links to an external site.
Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history (Links to an external site.)
MoMA-Glossary of Art: https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/glossary#r (Links to an external site.)
Smithsonian American Art Museum – Explore Themes in Art: http://americanexperience.si.edu/themes/
