Visual Literacy

 

Known as the ability to construct meaning from visual images (photographs, paintings, signs etc…). Visual Literacy is similar to a language, without people interpreting images and finding the message that is being conveyed to them then the media wouldn’t exist. Without interpreting the images then what would there be. As John Berger (1972, P.7) said “…Seeing comes before words…”.Images are used everyday and are seen practically everywhere (newspapers, on the television etc…). Encoding images is vital to society as Oring (2000: 58  P.2) said “…reading images is urgent to all levels of society…” I agree with this as we are living in a modern day world that uses images day in day out, We are “…living is a visual culture…” (Ausburn, 1978: 287  P.3). Interactive mediums rely on visual imagery.

Visual Communication

 

Is a combination of universal and culturally based conventions using technology and creativity to convey a message to the target audience. The audience has to encode images that they see. Images can be created easily. One of the most important types of visual communications is the Internet (others include the News on T.V and in magazines). Skills of reading and writing visually to understand the meaning of an image communicated across is vital.