Visual+Literacy

Visual Literacy involves your understanding about the text and visual images used to portray a message. Its important to understand how images can improve or backup what your text is trying to say, instead of causing confusion or sending the wrong message (especially when creating your own lesson plans). Below is a sample of my interpretation of a visual image.



This visual message seems to be aimed to show how much animal protein is consumed by Americans each year, with a negative tone. The choice of words around ‘chickens’ which include ‘food’ and ‘eaten’ tie a negative connotation to the fact that Americans are eating a fluffy cute animal, and not a source of a vital nutrient such as protein. The goal of the visual seems to be to deliver a message that Americans eat too many animals. The objects chosen to represent the food in question seem lighthearted and cartoonish. It doesn’t seem to back up the message that the text is giving which overall seems negative, almost condemning. However, I can see how that connection is necessary in order to achieve the desired effect linking the above mentioned wording that involves the chicken, with a cute little character. The coloring of the separate text boxes also seems contrary to the overall message. The color makes me think of spring, or colors in a baby’s blanket. I don’t expect the incorporated message to denounce a dietary practice with in your face facts. To improve the effectiveness of this image, I would use contrasting basic colors and less ‘cutesy’ images to represent the food in question.