Week 6 Reading

1. Explain why Voices in The Park is an example of a postmodern picturebook. 
Voices in The Park is a great example of a postmodern picturebook because it
does not follow the direct causality pattern of traditional stories. It has unusual pictures that don't go with with the traditional stories and it consists of four "separate" sub-plots which are related, but the reader can decide in what way the story becomes meaningful.
 
2. Give examples of how at least three of the picturebook codes listed on pg 78 are used in Voices In The Park.

Codes of Position and Size: The first story (image 5) is a good example of this code. The mother gorilla it very large in the image and is clearly worried, your attention is drawn to her first--- then the dogs in the background running across a hill.  

Codes of Color: My image I chose for my "Analyzing Visual Images" assignment is a perfect example of this code. The fourth story (image 7), the yellow light in the center of the image catches the viewers attention right away. The purple stars in the trees and the evening shade on the trees all set the "romantic" mood of the image. 

Codes of Perspective: The first story (image 6) places the reader far away from the characters. We are looking at them down a long walkway. The characters are facing each other, which tells the viewers that most likely the characters are engaged in conversation.

 
3. Identify and explain the type of "interplay" between the written word and visual images on one of the pages in Voices In The Park.

The font used for Charles’ mother is a classic style and is a hint that she sees herself as a proper and traditional figure. The font used for Smudge’s father is thick and bold and indicates his depressed nature. The font for Charles is thin and delicate as he is lonely and unsure of himself. The font in Smudge’s story is fun and childish, matching her cheerful personality.


4. Identify the art movement or technique that is being used in Voices In The Park.

Anthony Browne is known for pattern and background detail. There are many images in Voices In The Park that have images inside of images--- just to list a few: there are famous paintings in the backgrounds in one of the images, dogs are running in the background, Santa Claus walking through the street, colored tree trunks, and light twinkling in the trees.



5. Conduct an Ideological Analysis and Structural Analysis of Voices In The Park. What is the message? Provide evidence from the images to support your opinion. Use the examples on pg 86, 87,89. I do not expect your analysis to be as in depth but I would like for you to make two or three insightful observations about the perspectives and social context conveyed through the books words and images.

Ideological Analysis-The book allows us to see life through each of the characters in the story.
This is a story that could happen in today’s world. The four seasons in a city park are represented by apes in human clothing: a rich, uptight woman in the fall; a sad, unemployed man in the winter; the woman's lonely boy in the spring; the man's joyful daughter in the summer. Each one sees the place and the others differently, yet together the voices tell a story.

Structural Analysis-  Throughout the illustrations in this book, the illustrator used lines in ways to represent action and emotion, such as the case of Smudge's perception of Charles' mother. However, another way Browne used the concept of the line was to explain divisions in relationships and class distinctions. The first picture in Charles' voice shows the dog and him  separated by the division of the rooms. By showing the dog, most  (man's best friend), off in another room, distant to the boy, shows a division in their relationship. 

6. Embed a picture of the cover of Voices In The Park in your blog.

 

References: 
Browne, A. (1999). Voices in the park. Retrieved on June 29, 2014 from          
 http://research.kingston.ac.uk/booksalive/flash/book.html

 

Serafini, F. (2014).  Reading the Visual:  An introduction to teaching mulitmodal literacy. New York,  NY : Teachers College Press. 

Week 6 Analyzing Visual Images and Design in Picturebooks

Select an image from Voices in the Park to consider. Use the following questions to guide your analysis. Take a Screen Shot of the Image and embed the image in your blog. 

1. What is fore-grounded and in the background?

There is a walk-way and shadows from the trees in the foreground and people (monkeys) in the background.

2. Consider the path your eyes follow as you approach the image. What catches your eye first? Why is that element salient?

The first thing that catches my eye in the picture is was the light that is shining behind the monkeys. I think it stands out the most to me because it is the brightest color in the picture and in the center.

3. What colors dominate the image? What effect does this have on you as reader?

Like I said above, the yellow light stands out the most, but there are also purple lights in the tree and since it is picture book when you run your curser over them they shin and fall to the ground. I reader might have a feeling of love when looking at this the monkeys who are clearly sharing a nice moment and the lights in the tree make it feel magical.

4. Consider the use of white (negative) space. Are the illustrations framed or full bleed? How does this position you as a viewer?

The white (negative space) in the picture would be the white walk-way. The illustrations are full bleed because the shadows on the trees are running on the image on all sides.

5. What is the reality value or level of abstraction? Are the images life-like or stick figures?

The images in the picture are very life like and the figures are as well even though they are monkeys.

6. Are there any recurring patterns in the images?

The shadows on the ground from the trees, however, the shadows are different sizes.

7. Are there any anomalous elements? Things that stick out, or seem out of place? Are these important to consider?

The only thing that really caught my eye was that on the left side of the image there is an extra tree. I really don’t think that there is any significance to the tree being there.

8. What is the artist trying to get you to look at through leading lines, colors, contrast, gestures, lighting?

The artist wants the focus to be on the monkeys. The sidewalk is in the very center of the picture which leads to the monkeys. There is a bright yellow light behind them which is very eye-catching. The shadows from the tree indicate that the sun is most likely the setting (which would explain the bright yellow light behind the monkeys).

9. Are there any recurring symbols or motifs in the images?

There are recurring motifs which would be the tree themselves; the shadows from the trees, the lights in the tree are decorations that reoccur, and the two sidewalks.

10. Consider the style or artistic choices? Are they appropriate, and how do they add to the meanings of the picture book?

The text on the side of the picture says, “Charlie picked a flower and gave it to me.” Picking a flower usually symbolizes romance or love. I feel that the artistic choices were perfect to symbolize what they text states. It is a very romantic setting, from the sparkling lights in the tree to the sun setting in the background.

11. How are the images framed? Are there thick borders or faded edges?

There is not boarder around the image; the image almost looks like it was cut unevenly out of paper.

12. Consider the setting of the story. How is this realized in the images? Realistically? Metaphorically?

Since the story is about monkeys, most of the images are not realistic, however, the image I chose is. The monkeys are really far away in the picture and could almost pass as humans. The setting is very realistic as well, other than the sparkles that fall from the tree.

13. Consider size and scale. What is large? Why are certain elements larger than others? Does this add to meanings of power, control?

The trees are the largest elements in the image. I think that they are the prettiest objects in the image, but I don't feel that it has anything to do with power or control. I believe that the angle of the trees is helpful to make the readers eye go straight to the characters. 

14.  Consider the viewer’s point of view. Do characters directly gaze or address the viewer? Are the characters close up or distanced? How does point of view add to relationships with the characters?

The characters do not gaze at the viewers because they are looking directly at each other. The characters are very far in the distance, and since they are looking directly at one another (as well as the setting); it shows that they are interested in one another.