Reflective visual literacy: far more than meets the eye
Loading...
Date
2010
Authors
Jordaan, Danie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Communication Science, University of the Free State
Abstract
The commonly accepted notion that a picture is worth a thousand words paradoxically places greater communicative value on images than on spoken or written language. Ironically, a lingering precedence of letters and numbers over images still characterize “enlightened” contemporary discourse, in spite of many claims that we live in a society dominated by the visual. This article explores the hermeneutics of photographs and visual images on a conceptual level, touching on issues such as validity of interpretation, the fallacy of a universally understood and pictorial language and the distinction between functional visual literacy and nuanced reflective visual literacy. Finally it makes a case for including visual literacy as part of the formal curricula at school and at tertiary level.
Description
Keywords
Hermeneutics, Photographs, Functional visual literacy, Reflective visual literacy, Curriculum
Citation
Jordaan, D. (2010). Reflective visual literacy: far more than meets the eye. Communitas, (15), 21-37.