Blog #2

Academic Analysis

 This picture shows the fathers boat heading to the new home he seeks to find for him and his family. Darkness in the photo on the left hand side adds for a more serious vibe when looking at the photo. When I looked at it I see sadness but yet it’s still kind of serious. Using the Molly Bang’s “How Pictures Work” the vertical lines used in the clouds of the boat show that the boat is in movement and that it actually is moving towards the other side of the page. As Molly Bang says the middle of the page usually is the center of attention and in this picture the second you turn to it your eyes as the reader go right to the oversized cloud in the top of the page. This picture seems to be the complete opposite of what Molly Bang says in “How Pictures Work”. There are a few things that go with what she says though. For instance the big cloud, being the biggest object on the page and taking up close to 60 percent of the page makes it feel extremely strong and something you don’t want to mess with if you saw it in real life. Not because of the size but as you go left on the page past the cloud it goes from a rather subtle cloud to a very dark cloud that makes you not want to enter it.  But back to this picture having opposites she says rounded shapes and curves make you feel more secure and comforted yet when I look at that cloud (which is rounded) I see darkness and intimidation. That may also just be due to the size and color change. This image though gives off a lot of visual meaning. It has no words and even without words you’re able to comprehend what’s going on in the image. The image also gives spatial meaning with the placement of the boat it gives the reader the idea that boat has begun its long journey.

In this photo the father reaches the check-up station. Where doctors check immigrants health before they are allowed to reach their final destination. In this photo the reader can see all the immigrants in line for their examinations. While in line though if they look up they can see what their future holds. In the photo it shows a large picture located at the top of the page, which according to Molly Bang gives a sense of freedom and happiness to the viewer. The bottom half of the image, which shows all the immigrants in line unaware of what is to come, makes the image heavier and deep. It gives off a sense of seriousness and straight business. Back to the top of the image, the rounded frame around the main picture invites the viewer (the immigrants) in a secure way that allows them to feel relaxed and not as hesitant/scared. The rounded tops of the structures and the rounded clouds and what look like bubbles in the image at the top half of the image allow for the same response. If the picture was a little bit more clear it would give the reader the opportunity to see the body language of the immigrants give the image gestural meaning. But the image does give Visual meaning as well as spatial meaning. An example of Spatial Meaning would be how all of the immigrants are crammed together in line next to each other as they wait to be examined.

In this image the father is travelling to try and find work so that he can send his wife and daughter money so that they can soon join him in this new place.  The father standing at the top of a staircase looking over what seems to be some kind of small city. This image is rather busy but the illustrator makes it a point to put the father smack in the middle of the page giving us, the reader, a similar view over the city as him. His placement though which is in the center of the bottom half of the image, which deliver the message that his view is the main purpose of the image. The structure of this town is rounded and has smooth edges, which according to Molly Bang gives us a sense of stability and comforts us as the viewer making the town feel more welcoming. The vertical lines on top of the ships and coming out of the building show shows us the reader, movement. The large animal structure in the far distance holding what looks to be food shows just how strong and meaning that animal is. I feel like that may be the animal that they worship or praise.  The top half of the picture shows us that he’s finally reached his final destination, which is a place of freedom and happiness. This image also shows Visual meaning as well as Spatial meaning. But most importantly with how his body looks he seems to be in awe. This is an example of Gestural Meaning .

"Reading" Images: A Field Experience

 Picture 1.) In this distance of this photo you notice the Shippensburg University water tower. It allows for a more scenic picture. As well as allowing the viewer put into perspective of how big the water tower actually is. Other than the water tower though you have the basic picture. The viewer is given the opportunity to see the conditions that were in effect as the picture was being taken. The viewer notices how the flags are blowing in one way giving them the ability to notice that it was windy. Along with the wind the sun gives off two points proving it was out while the picture was being taken. You have the shadow from the tree on the left hand side as well as the obvious one being that the sky is clear with clouds in the distance behind the water tower.

Picture 2.) This sculpture allows for multiple different reactions. When I look at this I see a structure that has multiple pipes coming out of it with little flat heads at the end. Many might say that they're nails, but in my eyes, by putting the flowers on the ground into perspective. I see it as a large watering tool. The pipes and the little flat head at the end allows for water to flow out onto the flowers. Almost like a sprinkler but the artist to me believed that this would allow for a unique twist to watering plants. It's a piece that's also kind of intimidating looking in a sense. It's not something I would expect a child to run up to and start playing on and jumping off.

Blog #1

VS.

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1.) My name is Paryss Marshall and I am going into my sophomore year here at Shippensburg University. I am currently a Communications/Journalism major but plan on switching my major to Computer Science simply because technology is always changing so there's always place for work in that field. I am play Wide Receiver for the football team here at Shippensburg.

2.) I have some experience with reading comics. My grandfather every Sunday watched me and my younger brother when we were younger and would always save the comic strip for us before throwing it out. But again that was years ago so my recollection with comic strips definitely is not as up to par as it was back in the day. I haven't actually read a graphic novel in years so I can't really give an observation of the texts these days.

3.) Literature to me is something, using words, that tells a story or gives information. I believe that comics/graphic models do just that. They may not use as many words and may have pictures but that is the writers ways of telling their own neat little story. When we read we picture what's happening as we're reading. In comics/graphic novels, they help with that process of reading by allowing you to put a face to the name as you're reading it.

4.) I don't see much of a problem with them just because my brother, whom is a senior in high school,  still reads them and watches the tv shows and plays the games that come with it. Simply because thats what they find entertaining. But most people grow up learning that most comic book or graphic novel readers are "nerds". I can truthfully say I do not believe in them. The friends my brother hangs out with including himself are far from what you would consider a nerd had you not knew he was into graphic novels, comics, and anime. I am not someone who is into these types of things because it is not what I would consider as entertaining as the things I do find entertaining. But since I have read comics before and will/have read comics in this class.

5.) When it comes to having any questions, my biggest would have to be "How exactly does one read a comic correctly?" Understanding what a comic truly is and the unique way they tell the story is something that I hope to learn throughout this course. I plan on taking away the ability to read a comic or graphic novel and being able to read it and understand what it is the author is portraying. Being able to read it past the words. if that makes any sense.