Visual vs Symbolic Language

     In this picture it looks as if there is being a ceremony held of some kind.  The man in front wearing a uniform has a missing hand, and it looks like perhaps a ceremony is being held honoring him and his bravery and strength as a soldier for our country. Perhaps he is being rewarded for all he has done and given up for our country.  Everyone in this picture is smiling, so it tells us that it is likely it is a positive type ceremony being held.  The man hugging the solider is also in tears, so perhaps he was his captain or knew him well, and knew all that the soldier did in battle.

     If I were describing this event to a visual impaired person,  I would tell them that someone lost a hand while fighting for our country and was being honored for it.  I would tell them that the ceremony is representing his strength, courage, and bravery to the world.  I would also mention the American flag hanging in the background and how that is a key symbol for our soldiers today.

Responses or feelings:

Gratitude

Happiness

Courage

Loyalty

Proud

America

Patriotism

Symbols:

Some symbols shown in this picture are the American flag- which denotes freedom, security, pride, and is a well known symbol to all Americans that brings unity to the United States.  Another symbol is the army print on one mans uniform- army print shows he is fighting for our country, could have been in battle, and is loyal to America.

Composition:

I think the composition of this photo holds mixed emotions.  Although it shows a soldier possibly losing his hand in combat, the positing of the two men hugging with tears and smiles on their faces gives the viewer hope, optimism, and positivity.  I think the placement of the flag in the background gives off that it is a certain ceremony, and that the structural height difference of the people behind the main soldier shows that they could be possibly on a podium standing in front of a large crowd.

Meaning 2: Interactions Between the 3 Levels of Meaning

Although a visual communications major, I still find myself interested in the designs of certain products and how their logos are incorporated with them.  I found a link between representational, abstract, and symbols within the Starbucks corporation and their designs.

Representational- This Starbucks coffee cup plays the role of reality to the viewer.  This is a straight representation of a coffee cup because it is what people buy day in and day out at their local coffee shops.  The cardboard cup is standard for coffee and the flat lid with the square whole is known to be the lid of most all coffee cups wherever you go.  It appeals to the viewer because they have experienced using cups like this when they buy/drink their coffee, and they know what this cup is used for even if there was no logo presented.

 Abstract- The black outlines and detail of this images shape lets the viewer know this is a simple version of a coffee cup.  The viewer still understands what this image represents, but knows it is not the reality of a coffee cup they would actually use.  This image shows something that a viewer has not yet first handed experienced yet still understands what the concept of it is.  The outlined coffee cup relates to the other two levels of meaning because it fits right in between what is real and what is just used as a symbol to communicate with.

Symbol - This is the Starbucks logo for the company.  This is a universal world symbol and is known to mean coffee wherever represented.  The symbol shows a woman with a crown and star above it which is featured at every Starbucks globally.  When the viewer sees this symbol, they instantly know it means coffee.  This symbol correlates with the other images posted because they all mean and represent the same product.

Meaning 1-Symbol

The symbol I chose to represent is the "at" sign.  The "at" sign is symbolic because from this one character image, we know it has the same meaning as the word "at."  This symbol is effective because not only can it be seen and recognized, but it can also be reproduced.  We use this "at" symbol in our emails, when taking notes, and to visually display the word "at" differently.  It does not have a great deal of information, but still shows that it represents a word.  The viewer would know what this symbol means for it is commonly seen in our everyday lives, and the "a" in the symbol gives us a great hint for its true definition.

Meaning 1-Abstract

This image of a fish is abstract because it clearly shows us a fish, but is not real enough to be representational yet not simple enough to become a symbol.  It shows us a clear concept of a fish underwater.  It is a simplification toward a more distilled meaning of a fish.  Our human perception is able to strip away surface detail and realize that this is an abstract version of a real living fish.  Although abstract images don't always need to connect with representation, in this case it does.  Even with certain off characteristics, we can define this image as a fish and know where it derives from.

Meaning 1-Representational

"A representation is something we see and recognize from environment and experience" (Dondis 67).  I think a sunset is representational because it is something that can be identified by anyone and is seen from all over different parts of the world.  Sunsets are defined in elemental visual terms, and we get the direct experience of seeing one most daily.  Whether you are on the west coast or the east, you will see the same sun set day in and day out. We know the sun moves downward, changes the sky colors, and moves quickly all from past visual experiences. A sunset is a reality and actuality that the sun exists and we see it with our own eyes.