The Earth melting is not an image anyone would like to see, dramatized as it is, the issue of global warming and the climate change of our environment as a whole, is a pressing one. One that artist Roxana Radulescu took on directly in her online series Global Issues A-Z, which is a series of illustrations about global events. In “Climate change”, Radulescu uses a large number of features such as shape, color/contrast, unity and scale to depict her impression of global warming on our environment and shows her opinion through the illustration (Radulescu.) I intend to illustrate Radulescu’s meaning and purpose of the image through the four features listed, as well as explain how in particular these four effect the purpose so greatly. The meaning of this work is to draw attention to climate change and how it is a real issue, one that is not to be taken lightly as it is having a significant impact on our planet. This is shown by the disintegration on the planet represented by the large scoop of ice cream and its cone. 

Earth’s environment is slowly being decimated and destroyed over time, fading like an ice cream cone in the summer. Also just like an ice cream cone, once an area melts there is no reshaping or fixing it, there is only stopping the cycle; no regeneration, no full recovery. Without the use of shape, this point would be lost on all of us. One of the few uplifting things that could be pointed out from an image that is as negative as this image is could be that the melting seems to have just begun. This shape implies hope, that we can still fix this and stop the complete change of the climate. Because in the grand scheme of things people have only been significantly hurting the environment for around a century, which means the amount of melting (or lack thereof) indicated is accurate in terms of how much damage has been done. Without shape the entire illustration is essentially pointless to the argument because there would literally just be a globe that looks like an ice cream cone sitting out in space, implying nothing, meaning nothing, and conveying nothing. Radulescu’s image also follows the line of making these cause charged illustrations blunted and a little nondescript. Yet, this can still be listed as detailed enough to still have a decent amount of fluidity for a drawing that really does not give the viewer much to look at besides Earth and its cone. This large sphere that is our planet melting is moving because Earth is so powerful, and big, which is probably why Humans treat it like it is indestructible. Shape gives part of the real perspective behind the message, however the other main features of the illustration are equally as important and help us in the understanding of the image even more. 

The point of size or scale, is another important aspect of what gives even more meaning to a piece of art such as the one being depicted and analyzed. The size of the sun compared to the size of the Earth is the most prominent example, yet, at first, I did not think anything of it. The importance of this feature stems from the way the image represents part of the human dynamic and thinking and how we allowed our planet to get the way it is in terms of the environment. When talking about the scale of the Earth and Sun and their relationship to each other it is important to note the apparent distance between the two. Without Radulescu making very clear the distance between the two, I do not think I would have even noticed the fact that this image was addressing our impact on climate change. I would have just assumed that the sun was melting it and the search to try and find the meaning would pretty much be an impossible and most likely a fruitless guess. The human dynamic to which I am referring plays off the idea of how the Earth is the center of the universe, whether we like it or not our basic instinct is to just think that Earth is bigger than everything. What would we ever see that is bigger than Earth? Which is why Earth in the illustration is far in the fore front with nothing at all comparing in size. The size represents how humans think we are dominant overall and feel as though we and our planet are untouchable and that anything can really be done with no consequences. As we know however, the effects on the Earth are very evident. The way the image is scaled shows the subtle details that Radulescu threw in there to send the full message of the issue. Scale allows for a far more up close analyzation of the image and what it means. The lack of this detail would leave the image too open for interpretation without focusing on what is really going on. However, the element of scale in this image is not the sole factor that helps us interpret, color plays a large role in the interpretation as well.

Radulescu’s work goes about using color and contrast in a somewhat normal way, but it is integral to the functionality of the illustration and the meaning it has. The manner in which she gets her cone and earth to pop and be the absolute focal point of the piece was by making basically the entire background black and absent of color. The background of space and just a few stars enables the rest of the work to speak for itself with little other unnecessary distractions that may throw the viewer off from what she wants to convey in terms of climate change. When this image is printed in black and white it immediately takes away from what makes this work so effective. Even noticing the melting of the ice cream is difficult without color. The cone and ice-cream do not have as a distinct beginning and end to them. The coloring itself is also very important for the image. Just keeping the background and really the image as a whole simple was a key in making the message behind the image what is memorable and not the coloring or illustration itself. I am sure that if it was flamboyantly colored and ultra-detailed the point, would still make it across but would it be as effective? I really do not believe it would because you would focus on the art, not so much the message.  In this case, it should be the opposite of that sentiment. The color gives the image life and makes it easier to interpret but unity is what gives this image the last kick to make it extremely effective in conveying its stance. 

The final feature that plays a major influence on the meaning is of Radulescu’s picture represents is unity. Not only the literal unity within the picture but the unity represented beyond the picture. What struck me about unity and how it pertains to this picture is that even though climate change is present everywhere there are areas that are effected a lot more than others. The artist is still depicting the planet melting as one instead of small sections that are truly effected, which helped with the message of the image. Which brings up the point once again that simplicity is bliss, Radulescu does way more with way less and it works out very nicely. For the literal unity, the ice cream and its cone and how this image would not work what so ever if either one was not present. Also, though the unity of everything, not just the Earth and cone but the Earth, the blackness of the rest of the galaxy, the stars, the sun, all of it. It all makes up the environment together that gives us this image and this unity. It is also what gives the viewer a strong understanding of what this image means. Out of the four terms, this is the one that may not have as much in depth and meaning behind it. But what it lacks in depth is made up for in broadness and how important it is for this feature to be less detailed.  In terms of unity, if it does not encapsulate the entire essence that is this image, then this message is not doing its job. The image just does not have the same kick to it if unity is not functioning or present.  

The image of the Earth melting addresses the real environmental issues that are sending our world into disarray. But climate change is more than the ice caps melting. It is the issue that our environment faces every day because of a lack of action from the human race as a whole. Radulescu and her illustration “Climate Change” goes about showing climate change and condemning it in a rather unique way. This work and how effective it is at conveying its message could not have been done without the prominent features of unity, shape, color/contrast and scale. These themes are the main reasons why the image works so well. The simplicity of a cartoon-like illustration, yet the fact it came straight after the topic and really said a lot with a little, led this to being a very effective picture. An image that leaves you thinking about the topic of climate change, the environment, and what will be done about this ongoing and current issue. 
