week 2: Reading words and images

This week we looked at the different ways in which we can read words and images. Key points which were covered in a recap of the aforementioned post The World of Wrestling include:
Frame of Reference -

Presentation:  live event
Representation:  mediation. e.g words of the sports commentator
Re-representation:  reframing e.g sports highlights

We also looked at:
Anchorage - The dynamic between words and images
                   - Where text and image stand in a complimentary relationship

(Types of anchorage include: Word Specific, Image Specific, Dual Message, Interdependent/Convergent, and Parallel or divergent.)

Today we analysed the piece of work A Treachery of Images by René Magritte and how it can be read as a polysemous work (Barthes, 1977, p.15-p.27) i.e open to many interpretations. These interpretations can be Denotative (literal reading or non-coded, what we immediately see in the image) and Connotative (coded reading, or where words and images trigger associative readings or links to other concepts).

References

Barthes, R. (1977) The Photographic Message. In: Barthes, R. Image, Music, Text. 1st Ed. London: Harper Collins. p.15-p.27