Monday, December 7, 2009

Multiliteracies in Print Media: Analyzing Language and Image

This workshop is about semiotics (The study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation) and bringing images into the classroom . The speaker tried to tie in the fact that images have already been part of the education system. He points to the use of symbols in science and maths. He also points to the fact that words are mere images, codified by culture, to have a common meaning.

Image literacy is also important, according to him, because it aids in our understanding of the visual presentation. This is no where more apparent than when trying to read a sign in a foreign language (engrish.com).

This workshop then set out to to help teachers develop a common language from which we can teach visual literacy. "The language of making meaning from print media".

The speaker tried to introduce the concepts and essential properties of multi-semiotic texts which creates integration of pictures and words as more than a mere occurrence.

He provided a tentative framework for analysis of inter-semiotic text. This is divided into two categories, 1, Meta-functions and 2 - Cohesion

The bulk of this workshop is irrelevant to the classroom as a resource for direct application. However, the ideas that are very applicable from this workshop is the relationship between image and text in providing meaning.

E.g., Exponential texts-Newspapers and adverts, how image can shape perspectives, and appeal to or challenge our values and beliefs. It is important to know how the content creators choose to use images. And to not let our own opinions be too swayed by the symbiosis between image and text.

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