Picture This: How Pictures Work

Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, analyze, and create meaning through visual information, such as images, diagrams, and multimedia. It has its roots in the fields of art education and visual communication, but it has gained wider recognition and relevance in recent decades due to the growing importance of visual media in all aspects of life. It involves skills that enable individuals to effectively interpret images and communicate using them.

One of the key aspects of visual literacy is the ability to critically examine and decode visual messages. This involves understanding the complex interplay of formal elements, such as color, shape, composition, and perspective, as well as the cultural, historical, and contextual factors that shape the meaning and impact of images. Visually literate individuals can analyze the purpose, audience, and underlying assumptions of visual media and evaluate an image’s credibility, bias, and effectiveness.

Another important component of visual literacy is the ability to create and communicate visually. This includes skills such as visual thinking, visual problem-solving, and visual storytelling, which enable individuals to express ideas, convey information, and evoke emotions through images and multimedia. Visually literate creators make informed choices about the design and presentation of visual content, taking into account factors such as aesthetics, accessibility, and cultural appropriateness.

Molly Bang’s Picture This has made a significant contribution to the understanding and appreciation of visual language, particularly in using children’s book illustrations as a medium for guiding the conversation. At the core of her ideology is the belief that visual language is not a specialized skill reserved for artists and designers but rather a fundamental aspect of human communication that can be taught and developed. By breaking down the principles of picture composition into clear, accessible concepts and demonstrating their application through simple examples, Bang demystifies the process of visual meaning-making and invites readers to engage with images on a deeper level.

This democratic approach to visual literacy challenges traditional notions of artistic expertise and hierarchy, suggesting that anyone can harness the power of pictures for personal expression and creative problem-solving. Bang’s emphasis on the universality of visual language also highlights its potential as a tool for cross-cultural communication and understanding.