The Anatomy Of A Visual Message

Representational

- identify what role it plays in the whole: Portable USB drive - Big brained Einstein

- describe what kind of impact it has: Easy accessible/usable device, which allows someone to transfer information from one device to another. This is moving away from the representational towards the symbolism and abstraction

- how it relates to the other two levels: By using abstraction, the visualizer was able to draw a simple sketch of the device, which has symbols like the iconic genius of Einstein known for E=mc2, which is a symbol in iteself. Also, it involves abstraction because of the large over-exaggerated brain.
Abstract

- identify what role it plays in the whole: By making the brain large, the visualizer was able to poke fun at the intelligence level of a famous person

- describe what kind of impact it has: By using this brain idea, the visualizer was able to make a suitable protective covering (cap) for the USB device.

- how it relates to the other two levels: Without the abstraction to symbolism in a representational form of the large brain, the visualizer wouldn't make the device too appealing, although the core juxtaposition of Einstein and a technological device is still pretty humorous.
Symbolic

- identify what role it plays in the whole: The potential object is representationally a symbol of itself by using Einstein + E=mc2

- describe what kind of impact it has: Humorous juxtaposition of smart Einstein with big brain and technological device

- how it relates to the other two levels: Representionally it is a USB device, symbolically it is Einstein, Abstractly he has a big brain.

Week 14: The Anatomy Of A Visual Message

Here is an example of a representational image. Clearly someone had the intent of making a realistic image, probably either copied in some way from either a picture or someone was there and took the time to sketch it out. It is a direct copy of something that someone saw. This is some of the most impressive representational pieces because it requires more detail that the other representational levels. There isn't very much guessing or questioning of what the picture is or what it represents. There is enough detail to know what it is, however the new questions are who, what, when, where, and how.

This is a picture of my friend in the military, who's workout is to carry a cross. This is very symbolic in many ways because religion itself creates enormous amounts symbolism. Especially in institutions such as the military or prison, religion is commonly found. The fact that he is carrying this huge cross gives a sense of discipline which will benefit him in the long run.

This is an abstract picture of something that is very questionable, yet very pleasing to the eye due to the effects. Small things can be picked out by the viewer such as a flower combined with the curvature of the overall piece. This picture's intent is to make you feel through question, rather than immediately knowing what it is. It is inspirational, and represented differently by each person who views it.