Double Entry Journal #2

Quote:

"Just as basic textual literacy uses vocabulary, metaphors, and genres, visual literacy employs colors, icons, and various media to communicate ideas and feelings to readers. Grounded in the senses and

surrounded by a context, both basic and visual literacy rely on active construction of meaning through a process of interpreting codes and signs." (Abilock, 2003)

This quote made me think about the visual cues that I am exposed to everyday. The sensory information discussed is something that I often take for granted and I'm safe to asssume that I'm not alone. After reading this quote and its related reading, I am going to may more attention to the information that is presented to me in the media. It amazes me how much a message can be skewed by changing colors, symbols, background images, and gestures. Being able to discern all of the symbols that are presented to us is important and grows more important as technology advances. Messages can reach the public in the blink of an eye and being able to critically think about how/why these messages are constructed are necessary skills that we as adults need to master, as well as to instill in future generations.


The article, Suggestions for Addressing the Increased Emphasis on Visual Imagery over Aural Messages by Jim Schnell provides an interesting discussion regarding media literacy and the emphasis on visual cues over aural cues in today's society and media. He states that visual messages fade into our reality little by little, day by day. I agree that these messages are so subtle that most of us do not recognize that they are affecting our opinions and emotions every day. 

1. Semiotics is the study of how the reading of signs and symbols together communicate complicated ideas in the form of code.

2. Teachers can capitalize on students preferred literacy behaviors by teaching quick ways to assess authority and credibility in the media. We can utilize more visual resources and teach our students to recognize how symbols are used in the media to convey messages.

3. It is important for students to learn to analyze the news media so that they can become critical and knowledgeable participants in our democracy.

4. A WV CSO that a photo analysis activity could address in eighth grade languae arts is :

RLA.O.8.1.9

summarize explicit and implied information from literary and informational texts to recognize the relationships among the facts, ideas, events and concepts (e.g., names, dates, events, organizational patterns, graphical representations as found in photographs, captions, maps, tables or timelines, textual features including table of contents, headings or side bars). References: Atlock, D. (2003). Seven power lens on 21st century literacy. Retrieved from http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/newsmedia/PowerLensSingle.pdf Schnell, J. (2008). Suggestions for addression the increase visual emphasis on visual imagry over aural messages. Retrieved from http://mprcenter.org/mpr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=123