Visual Literacy: Matrix

Codes & Conventions Colour

Possible functions or roles Create mood or emotion, attract attention.

How salience might be achieved with this code Use bright, colour or light tone in an otherwise dark or dull image to attract attention to an aspect of the image that is important.

Line

Create mood or emotion to indicate character, show relationships, attract attention, direct the reader/viewers gaze or focus.

The use of fine, halting and shaky lines, applied lightly to portray one character in contrast to others could depict frailty. The repeated use of line in this way in contrast to the depiction of other characters draws attention to this particular aspect of the character.

Form or Shows juxtaposition relationships, relative importance, character or emotion.

The placement of a particular character in front of others in every image in a sequence establishes the importance of that character or dominance over other characters. The selection of a bottomup camera angle can emphasise important aspects of a character or item. For example, it can empower a character by making them appear tall and dominating.

Point of View

Position the reader to view the scene or image in a particular way. Can promote empathy or create distance with the object and characters portrayed.

Framing

Depict mood or

By framing a part of the

How cohesion might be developed with this code In a series of images, where the seasons or time of day change, the palette or set of colours used in the image will change to indicate the passage of time to the reader. This will help the reader to link events and time in the text and so provide coherence. Lines that connect elements in a diagram can indicate relationships. The relative weight of the line can indicate the strength of the relationship (eg heavy indicates strong, fine indicates weak). The addition of arrows to lines in a diagram can indicate direction of a relationship or cause and effect. The use of lines aids the reader/viewer in finding coherence between the elements in a diagram. The juxtaposition of items in a diagram can indicate relationships eg. items grouped together can indicate they have something in common while being placed far apart can indicate the opposite. The repetition of this juxtaposition creates coherence. A birds eye view of a setting can provide the reader/viewer with an overall picture of all the elements and where they are placed. This means that when these elements are presented in other scenes, the reader/viewer has a reference point to call upon to make sense of that element in the overall setting. The birds eye view becomes a link for the reader to help place other scenes in context. It aids coherence between scenes. A sequence of framed images on

Bull & Anstey, Evolving Pedagogies (2010)

Visual Literacy: Matrix

authority, direct attention. scene and thus separating it from the rest, it focuses the reader/viewer on particular information, characters or action, indicating importance. The use of hard focus for some characters and soft focus for others informs the viewer as to which character is most important. a screen or page can indicate the passage of time thus creating coherence for the reader/viewer when determining the sequence of events. By consistently using hard/sharp focus on the person whose action or dialogue is important, and soft focus on the rest of the scene, coherence can be created the viewer will always know where to direct their attention. If the same lighting is used on a character throughout a film then it creates a particular character who can be recognised through the whole film. This provides coherence through character development.

Focus

Depict mood or authority, direct attention.

Lighting

A spotlight or patch of bright light, can draw attention to action that is happening in a scene or image, indicating its importance to the plot or meaning of the scene/image. Bull & Anstey, Evolving Pedagogies 2010

Create mood, provide information about setting, draw attention

Bull & Anstey, Evolving Pedagogies (2010)