Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Visual VS Symbolic Language


"Economy" 

The image pictured above depicts a white piggy bank in the foreground tilted on its side with a few coins (about two pennies, two dimes, and two nickles) that appear to be falling out of it. The piggy bank is seen resting on an abstracted American flag, with some of the stars in the foreground and approximately only six stripes are visible in the background. Additionally, since the image of the piggy bank accounts for most of the composition of the photograph, it could be said that it is meant to be the focal point. One could additionally infer-- due to the details visible from the flag-- that the picture is a close-up shot. 

Responses/ Feelings to Image

  • Satirical/ humorous 
  • Amused (due to wit)
  • In agreement with, despite slight exaggeration. 
  • Understanding
  • Slightly distressed
  • Knowledgeable (insight to Politics and Economic state)
  • Interested 

Symbols

  • United States (symbolized through flag) 
  • Economic crisis
  • Currency (US coins)
  • Piggy bank (notion of saving)
  • Childhood (piggy bank) 
  • Star (Symbolism of states in flag)
  • Stripes (Symbolism for first colonies) 

The image's meaning is not only brought on by the symbolism created, but also by the composition of the photograph. Since the focal point of the image is the piggy bank, the photograph is introduced to the viewer through a feeling of amusement. This is due to  the relationship such an icon often has with childhood, making it witty yet intriguing to the spectator. However, when analyzing the foreground, one can come to the understanding that the symbol of the tilted piggy bank is a symbol for the Economic crisis in the United States, which in turn can cause some feelings of distress and or an interest  to obtain the deeper meaning of the context. 



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