
Within visual close readings you can see different symbolic visuals that help show how shots, gaze, and attention affect and or guide the viewer’s perception and effect the interpretation of a visual narrative. stick to the text! Watch second person pronouns! Through a visual narrative you view the piece in a way that must be evaluated and take in what is happening within the scene to fully understand and depict what is happening in the visual narrative. The use of graffiti art is artist’s way of spreading idea and thoughts of oneself to the world with freedom of speech and without guidelines. Good! The use of repeating symbolic elements in visual close reading allow many universal representations to help guide the reader through the visual narrative to understand what is being depicted. In graffiti work the artist’s use background, its location, and its relation to its viewers to guide the viewer through the reading. In both of the street art images discussed in class, the chained silhouette and imprisoned hands, we see the repeated symbolic representation of freedom, peace, and background through universal symbols and ideas allowing the reader to be better guided to an understanding of the narratives. Good! What kind of understanding arises? You're almost there!

The chained silhouette tells a story of freedom through the thoughts and ideals set in place by our society. Be specific about these terms – what is the story? what are the thoughts/ideals it is challenging? More generally, what is this paragraph about?  An image of a suited man appears, thoughts of who he is begin to come to mind. The man represents status. The visual graphic depicts a silhouette of the man with gold watches, a nice shirt, and tie. Surrounding the center image is graffiti. The dress of the silhouette shows his high status, compared to the graffiti that surrounds the image. The overall size of the image creates a draw to the visual narrative, because the significate size of the visual graphic overcomes any of the other images displayed on the wall catching the attention of a reader. The presence of graffiti shows the location of the image to be in most likely a lower incomed area and also represents the idea of freedom to express ideas and thought without control. Context? The gold watches the man wears appear to turn into shackles, restraining his wrists. The shackled chains show how the idea of money and status can constrict personal thought and keep you from freeing yourself. The tie symbolizes societies hold on us as people in today’s time of material worth and the control society has on personal thought and representation. The location of this visual graphic can be interpreted to show how the person depicted in the visual is controlled by society as the other images of graffiti surrounding the main image are allowed to speak without control and are free. This graphic through symbolic visuals creates a guide to the understanding of the visual narrative for the reader. The symbols allow the idea of freedom to be seen through the piece showing the reader that societies ideas and thoughts can restrain personal freedom. There is a lot packed into this paragraph. You probably want to break it into smaller units/thoughts and divide by the paragraph, or select the most important detail for your argument. 

The second image of graffiti depicts the visual image of a hand reaching from a prison cell or bared window. Use a topic sentence before transitioning into visual description and analysis. The hand seems to be presenting a peace sign while holding a chain that is attached to a flying dove. Attached at the end of the chain is a rose like shaped wrecking ball that is breaking through the wall that appears to be breaking apart in the street art. The side of the bared window is a red coloring as the sky around the dove is blue. The repeating symbolism of hope can be seen within the visual narrative in the dove that universally represents hope and the peace sign meaning peace. The chain shows a confining tone that can be depicted also by the wall that was once there. The red coloring typically represents a warning, allowing the reader to feel danger or fear within the visual art. As the lighter side of blue shows peace and hope to the reader. The location of the graffiti art is in Berlin at the Berlin Wall, the location helps the reader understand what was going on in the area which can help explain the narrative. The graffiti set the idea for the period in which the Berlin wall was taken down and how the division of Germany had ended. After World War II the Berlin Wall was put up to separate the different sections of Germany during a hostile time in history. The artist uses the image to symbolize the taking down of the Berlin Wall representing the end of hardship and a movement of hope and peace in the country of Germany. With the help of symbols and visual representations the reader is better able to be guided through the visual narrative to understand the meaning and what is going on within the piece. The symbols guide the reader to a feeling of hope and peace. 

The background of an image can tell much about the artist’s point of view and the story that the visual text will tell a reader. Stick to the text rather than images and backgrounds in general. Most images are effected by their surrounding and influenced by where they are located and what cultures they will be viewed by. The use of specific symbols and representations specific to an area where an art work will be viewed helps connect the piece to the reader and creates a better understanding of the image. Graffiti art such as both images discussed in class are affected by this notion. The silhouette of the man is specific to the area where the graffiti is placed. It is located in the city where people from different statuses will see it and has a better understanding about the struggle of status and freedom of personal voice society has on people. The hand reaching from the prison cell is specific to the location of the art work. The graffiti represented a specific event in history. The placement or location of a visual image and the background of an image helps a reader become more interested and relative to a visual narrative. 

When a reader first views an image it is easy to make assumptions solely on the visual art. The repetition of symbolism and visual representations create a guide to understand a close visual reading. When looking closer at a visual reading a reader can use other aspects of knowledge and visuals to understand the art work. The repeating ideas of freedom, peace, and hope are repeatedly seen throughout art by universal ideas and images that are well known to most. By using visual symbols and close readings within the art the reader is able to use them to help understand and follow what is happening within a visual narrative.
