ANALYSING VISUALSLanguage Analysis

VISUALS YOU MAY HAVE TO ANALYSE

Cartoon

Photograph

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Graphs or other statistical representations

CARTOONSContext: What is the issue to which the cartoon/text refers?

Comment: Is the cartoon is making a political or social comment?

Contention: What is the cartoonist’s contention?

Tone: Is the cartoon’s tone serious, funny, dark and gloomy, witty or biting?

Components: What are the different elements of the cartoon?

CARTOONS

Use of Irony:

- Situational irony: i.e. absurd, ironic situations based on coincidence or unexpected events.

- Linguistic irony: the use of ironic language such as puns, sarcasm and hidden messages

CARTOONSSymbols: Cartoonists use symbols to convey complex ideas with an economy of detail. In general terms, a symbol is anything that stands for something else. Obvious examples are flags, which symbolize a nation; the cross is a symbol for Christianity; a light bulb is a symbol of inspiration in acartoon. What symbols are used to convey the cartoonist’s contention? Explain what the symbol means in the context of this particular cartoon.

Intended Impact on the Viewer: How does the cartoonist position the viewer to think, feel and act

COLOUR

Colours can be separated into two groups – warm colours and cool colours. Warm colours

including red, orange and yellow may be used to evoke feelings of comfort and warmth. It can

also be used to express anger and embarrassment. Meanwhile, cool colours

including blue, green and purple may represent calm and tranquility. Otherwise it can mean

sadness and misery.

SIZE

Size is an important element in cartoons and one that is often quite obvious. Investigate:

♣ Is anything disproportioned?

♣ Exaggerated? Under-exaggerated?

♣ What is large and what is small?

HOW IS SIZE IMPORTANT HERE?

LABELLING

Often a cartoonist will label something that they think the average reader won’t know about (eg: who a person is)

♣ What is labeled?

♣ What do the labels say?

♣ Do the labels tell us the situation? Person? Time change?

FOCUS

The focus of a cartoon can indicate the main issue or situation.

♣ What is in focus?

♣ What is in the foreground and background?

Many cartoonists include a small signature in their works, for example, Mark Knight uses a pig, which is usually making a statement about the issue. Don’t ignore the small things

MARK KNIGHT’S PIG

ANGLES

Angles often provide readers an indication of the status of particular people or things.

If the angle is sloping down, then it creates an image of a smaller person or item. This indicates weakness, inferiority and powerlessness.

An angle sloping up towards a person or item provides it with power, superiority and authority.

A straight-on angle can represent equality.

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

Facial expressions are key to the character’s thoughts, feelings and emotions.

♣ What facial expressions are used?

♣ Do they change (sequential cartoons)?

♣ How do expressions compare to another’s expression?

♣ Is it an expression we expect?

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs are often used to help communicate a point of view because they are typically more immediate.

You can often find the features previously mentioned about cartoons. Eg: colour, facial expression, focus etc.

BALI 9: NOW

COMPOSITION

Refers to where and how things are positioned in a photograph.

Are they large and dominant?

Are they small figures?

Are they in the centre, to the side etc?

BALI 9

BALI 9 THEN

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Contain a combination of visual and written techniques, ensure that you analyse them all