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Here is another good example of visual literacy. What is this art trying to tell us? There are no words or text, so this is open to much more interpretation than a piece of art with accompanying text.

As you mention, this would not be considered a traditional example of literacy, and it shows how the definition of literacy is changing. I think this image also shows how literacy means different things to different individuals, as there could be numerous interpretations of what this photo represents. There is not going to be one correct interpretation; there are several possible explanations.

There are many ways to design something so that the intended result and conclusion occur.

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Graffiti was once widely considered as vandalism, but that attitude has changed today. I feel that there is a certain literacy required to interpret different pieces of graffiti art, and more broadly, visual images.

The image incorporates slang and casual language as this is a language that is more commonplace in today's society. I see this type of language in newspaper articles, where it wasn't there before. These kinds of words are being added to dictionaries, so they have made their way into out everyday lexicon.

The message that this art is trying to convey is also important. As I look at this image, I think about Marshall McLuhan's famous phrase: "The medium is the message".

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The colours in the advertisement really stand out to me; it makes me want to check it out due to the variety. If this ad had fewer colours and variety, I would be less likely to check it out. In today's world, we are inundated with so many advertisements that they need to stick out and be different in order for us to notice them.

The text in the ad mimics text messaging, which is a literacy that any smartphone user is familiar with, especially today's youth.

Literacy today is does not operate in a straight line, much like our world does not.

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I really liked this photo and thought about how font can also enhance literacy. Choosing the right font for a specific genre of text can have an impact on the message and the learner. This, too, is a skill necessary for students to learn as it affects interest, meaning and purpose.

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After reading and viewing this image, I thought of how difficult it is to keep up with apps. The digital landscape is always changing and as teachers we need to try to stay abreast of the newest, latest greatest. But can we?

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I like this photo and your analysis of it. You had me thinking of the importance of images for emergent literacy learners and how images continue to be important to make meaning for proficient readers too.

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Now I'm curious about Qarma! You're absolutely right that design is an important pat of literacy--and I think it's fair to say that most people have fairly low "design literacy". (But given my interest in design, perhaps I'm biased!) But hasn't design also been part of the text-based domain as well? (Illustrated manuscripts, right down to the design of contemporary books--the jacket, the sleeve, the typeface, the paper stock, "ragged" or "clean" edges, etc.)

The last thing I'll say is that I'm intrigued by the obliqueness of all 3 images. None of them are shot "on axis"--they're all at an angle to their subject. Was this deliberate? If so, I think it raises some interesting ideas.

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First of all, I know the person who owns the original of this painting! Like the graffiti, it's art in an urban context. It makes us think about how we read the urban landscape. How do you read the painting itself?

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I also took some pictures of graffiti, but ended up not using them. I think it's interesting for many of the same reasons you explain. I think you're quite right that formerly marginaized forms of expression have grown to be deemed more "valuable" (Banksy is VERY valuable)--which in turn raises questions about the commodification of art--but that's tangential!) It's still somewhat ironic that it is somewhat hidden down an alleyway.

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This picture is of a graffiti wall art mural in a downtown area.  It is a colourful mural depicting the caption ‘don’t be judgmental’ with various people, symbols and words scattered around it.  The mural
attempts to convey a message of peace and community mindedness with its bright colours, childlike graphics and heart and star symbols.  It is located down an alleyway in the downtown area with moderate pedestrian traffic.  I took this picture first of all because I have noticed the upsurge in popularity of graffiti art and find the both the message, design and locations interesting.  This image also helps to illustrate how literacy today has expanded to include forms previously considered less valuable such as comic books and graffiti art.  The visuals, words and spatial dimensions of the picture work together to create a unique effect that can be ‘read’ in different way by different people. The image can help us to look at the very different ways we ‘read’ in our daily lives in different contexts.  Thinking about how words in different contexts mean different things allows to understand better how literacy functions.

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This photo is of a painting located on a metal pillar in downtown Calgary.  The painting consists of brightly coloured circles in different sizes on a white background. Someone has placed an art print in a random industrial location where there is otherwise nothing similar to it.  The art stands out even more as it appear to be out of place and therefore people tend to think about the picture and what it means.

I took this picture because it reminded me of the visual aspect of literacy and how often it is overlooked.  Without text we sometimes overlook what is being communicated, even though a picture can be just as powerful. It reinforces my belief that visuals such as images and video play a large role in literacy today and must be understood in the same way that text should be.  Digital literacy encompasses a wide variety of symbols and media to communicate a point and being able to understand these is key to literacy today.

This image provides an opportunity for us to expand upon what literacy is now by challenging traditional notions of what literacy is supposed to be.  Looking at design principles and how images work to heighten or even replace text is important to understanding how literacy works today as opposed to the past.

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This photo is of a large banner advertising an app called ‘Qarma’.  The ad describes Qarma as a type of messaging service that answers questions about crowds in general.  The banner uses bright colours, little text and design that mimics popular microblogging sites such as Twitter. A large advertising banner has been placed along the sidewalk to attract attention from people passing by.

I took this particular picture because it portrays a very modern form of communication that younger people in particular would recognize as relevant and normal.  A popular form of reading online involves this type of back and forth dialogue and multiple perspectives.

This picture shows us a newer form of literacy that requires social awareness and familiarity with non-linear digital reading.  This style of short bursts of information from many different users illustrates how literacy has evolved since the internet.

This image illustrates that
literacy today is much more than simply reading text from left to right in a sequential order to glean information.  Literacy now involves elements of design and production that help to create meaning for the reader beyond just the text.  The use of colour, purposely mis-spelled words and the placement of text create a new meaning that the user should be able to decipher with modern literacy skills.

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Welcome to Michelle's Photovoice Gallery....

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Welcome to Michelle's Photovoice Gallery....