Unit 1

How Am I Influenced by Images?

Think Like a Reader

Make Meaning

Strategy


We create meaning by using reading or viewing strategies.

Use What You Know


Use what you know means to bring your background knowledge to the situation.  Each image has a subject that is the main idea of the picture.


A Young Hare by Albert Druer 1502 A.D. courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The rabbit is the subject of this painting.

 
Lobster by Albert Druer 1502 A.D. courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The crab (entitled lobster by the painter) is the subject of this painting.

Escaping Criticism by Pere Borrel Caso 1873 A.D. courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

The boy is the subject of this image.

Connect the image to a real life situation, person, or story. If the image is about a crab, what do you know about crabs? If do not know anything about crabs, ask good questions. Research answers to your questions.

Decide What's Important


Decide what's important means to find the key detail(s) in the image.
Observe:
  • What objects, animals, or people are in the picture?
Describe:
  • How would you describe the objects, animals, or people in the picture?
  • How do you feel when you look at the picture?
Connect:
  • Which parts of the image affect you the most? The people, clothing, buildings, cars, animals, or symbols? For example, what story the boy’s surprised expression tell?
  • What visual techniques were used to focus your attention on these details? Why is the light focussed on the boy’s chest and knee? Does this make the painting seem more dramatic to contrast the light and dark colours? How do these tell a story?
  • What message does the artist want to emphasize using these details?


Evaluate


Evaluate means to consider the designer's message, and consider how well he or she created it. It's almost like you are mentally assigning a grade to the designer's work. Things to consider when evaluating a designer's work:

  • What is the artist’s purpose? (tell a story, document an event, make a statement)
  • What information is provided in the text surrounding the image? For example, why does Alfred Druer call the crab a lobster?
  • Who do you think the artist is trying to influence? Do you think someone was criticizing the artist Pere Borrel Caso? Did he want viewers to use their imaginations?
  • How accurate is the image? Why is the boy coming out of the frame? Does this optical illusion work well?
  • Does the designer achieve his or her purpose, message or emotion in the image?

Now that you have learned how to look at a picture closely, answer the questions in the Reader's Notebook: Viewing Images.



Document: Reader's Notebook: Viewing Images
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  1. Download the document Reader's Notebook: Viewing Images.
  2. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the download screen opens:
      • Click the "Open with" button.
      • Select "Adobe Reader".
      • Click "OK".
      • You will then be able to view the document Reader's Notebook: Viewing Images.
      • Can't view the file? View Skill Builder: Saving Dynamic PDFs.

Save

How to save a file:

  1. Have the file open and select Save As from the File menu.
  2. Name your Reader's Notebook: Viewing Images file in this format: jsmith_viewingimages and save the file to your Documents folder.

Summative Assessment

  1. This worksheet is for marks. Submit the worksheet on the next page.
As you read through the rest of this unit, practise using the use what you know, decide what's important, evaluate strategy.