Visual LiteracyVisual LiteracyCrossing the Bridge Towards a New Form of 21Crossing the Bridge Towards a New Form of 21stst Century Century

LearningLearning

Kari Carriere Kari Carriere Marcie Perdue Marcie Perdue Kevin Baird Kevin Baird

““When asked what students need When asked what students need to be learning that they are not, to be learning that they are not, George Lucas replied that they George Lucas replied that they need to understand a new need to understand a new language of expression. They language of expression. They need visual literacyneed visual literacy.” .”

Bleed,R. (2005)Bleed,R. (2005)

Why Visual Literacy?Why Visual Literacy?

““It’s not just about reading and writing it’s about It’s not just about reading and writing it’s about incorporating visual elements into a new definition incorporating visual elements into a new definition of what it means to be literate.”of what it means to be literate.”

The question presented to 21The question presented to 21stst Century Educators Century Educators is whether students can interpret and use visual is whether students can interpret and use visual texts in ways that advance thinking, decision texts in ways that advance thinking, decision making, communication and learning. making, communication and learning.

Understanding FilmUnderstanding Film

Aspect Ratio

ProxemicsProxemics

The distance between the camera and The distance between the camera and the subject.the subject.

Proxemics are used to place emphasis Proxemics are used to place emphasis on important characters and symbols on important characters and symbols within a visual frame.within a visual frame.

FramingFraming

Extreme Long ShotExtreme Long Shot

Long ShotLong Shot

The Full ShotThe Full Shot

Medium ShotMedium Shot

The Close UpThe Close Up

Extreme Close UpExtreme Close Up

Negative SpaceNegative Space

Deep Focus ShotDeep Focus Shot

Shallow FocusShallow Focus

Angle ShotsAngle Shots

The angle is determined by where the camera is The angle is determined by where the camera is placed, not the subject being photographed.placed, not the subject being photographed.

The angle from which an object is photographed The angle from which an object is photographed can often serve as a commentary on the subject can often serve as a commentary on the subject matter. If the angle is slight, it can serve as a matter. If the angle is slight, it can serve as a subtle form of emotional coloration. An extreme subtle form of emotional coloration. An extreme angle is often used to place significance on an angle is often used to place significance on an object. More importantly, it emotionally connects object. More importantly, it emotionally connects the viewer to a character’s feelings or emotions.the viewer to a character’s feelings or emotions.

Worm’s Eye ViewWorm’s Eye View

Low AngleLow Angle

High AngleHigh Angle

Bird’s Eye ViewBird’s Eye View

Angle of DestinyAngle of Destiny

Wide AngleWide Angle

DirectionalityDirectionality

LightingLighting

There are a number of different styles of There are a number of different styles of lighting. Usually the style is geared lighting. Usually the style is geared towards the theme and mood of the towards the theme and mood of the film, as well as its genre.film, as well as its genre.

High Key High Key

High Contrast High Contrast

Low KeyLow Key

BacklightingBacklighting

Side LightingSide Lighting

Now it is Your Turn! Now it is Your Turn! Identify the following camera shots and Identify the following camera shots and

angles. angles.

Character Character DevelopmentDevelopment

Using Visual LiteracyUsing Visual Literacy

A New Way of TeachingA New Way of Teaching

While it is true that as teachers we are While it is true that as teachers we are required to study film in our English classes, required to study film in our English classes, we need to move our pedagogy further than we need to move our pedagogy further than simply discussing film like a written text. simply discussing film like a written text.

Instead, we need to push our students and Instead, we need to push our students and ourselves to see film as a form of visual ourselves to see film as a form of visual literacy that has its own terminology and literacy that has its own terminology and techniques that are used to develop techniques that are used to develop character and themes in new and exciting character and themes in new and exciting ways. ways.

NeoNeo (a.k.a Tom Anderson)(a.k.a Tom Anderson)

THE ONETHE ONE

An anagram of Neo is One.An anagram of Neo is One.

The number 1 represents The number 1 represents

"the prime mover from which all "the prime mover from which all manifest creation flows, the single manifest creation flows, the single principle from which diversity is principle from which diversity is born. In dreams it may represent born. In dreams it may represent the source of all life, the ground of the source of all life, the ground of being...”being...”

AA Christ FigureChrist Figure

Neo's full name in the matrix is Thomas A. Neo's full name in the matrix is Thomas A. Anderson. The last name means "Son of Anderson. The last name means "Son of Man" or "Man's Son. (both refer also to the Man" or "Man's Son. (both refer also to the Biblical Messiah. In Christian theology, Jesus Biblical Messiah. In Christian theology, Jesus Christ is the Messiah (Son of God, Son of Christ is the Messiah (Son of God, Son of Man, "Light of The World") who saves Man, "Light of The World") who saves mankind from its sins. mankind from its sins.

Neo is not meant to actually represent Christ, Neo is not meant to actually represent Christ, but these suggested connections elevate his but these suggested connections elevate his status in the films and underscore the status in the films and underscore the important role he plays in the battle to save important role he plays in the battle to save the human race.the human race.

NEONEO

Filmed in Negative Space to demonstrate his Filmed in Negative Space to demonstrate his alienation from society and the truth.alienation from society and the truth.

Negative space often indicates an internal conflict Negative space often indicates an internal conflict within a character.within a character.

Film techniques can often be used to replicate an Film techniques can often be used to replicate an allusion for viewers to interpret. allusion for viewers to interpret.

NeoNeo

TRINITYTRINITY

The UnityThe Unity

Trinity stands for the number three. Trinity stands for the number three.

The word "trinity" is often used to represent the The word "trinity" is often used to represent the union of three people or things, such as: “body, union of three people or things, such as: “body, mind and spirit” “birth, life and death” “past, mind and spirit” “birth, life and death” “past, present and future”present and future”

The The MatrixMatrix trilogy is in many ways united by the trilogy is in many ways united by the relationship that develops between Morpheus, relationship that develops between Morpheus, Trinity and Neo. In the Matrix trilogy, Trinity serves Trinity and Neo. In the Matrix trilogy, Trinity serves as a uniting force, the one who gives us access to as a uniting force, the one who gives us access to Neo.Neo.

Along with Neo, the character of Trinity is Along with Neo, the character of Trinity is also filmed in negative space, but in contrast also filmed in negative space, but in contrast with that of Neo. Quite often the two of them with that of Neo. Quite often the two of them are filmed in opposition, until they are finally are filmed in opposition, until they are finally joined in the end of the movie.joined in the end of the movie.

She is often filmed with lights and other She is often filmed with lights and other characters to symbolically represent a trinity.characters to symbolically represent a trinity.

TrinityTrinity

AgentsAgents

Agent Defined:Agent Defined:

"A person or thing that acts or has the power to "A person or thing that acts or has the power to act.”act.”

"A drug or chemical capable of eliciting a "A drug or chemical capable of eliciting a biological response." By definition, the agents biological response." By definition, the agents injected Morpheus with an agent.injected Morpheus with an agent.

An organism that is a cause of disease. (Note An organism that is a cause of disease. (Note that Agent Smith called the human race a virus that Agent Smith called the human race a virus and he called the machines the cure.)”and he called the machines the cure.)”

A person who acts in an official capacity for a A person who acts in an official capacity for a government agency.”government agency.”

The Enemy of ManThe Enemy of Man

The word "agent" in this movie refers to the The word "agent" in this movie refers to the machine police of the matrix simulated world machine police of the matrix simulated world and are the human race's enemy.and are the human race's enemy.

Agents are, in the words of Morpheus, Agents are, in the words of Morpheus, "Sentient programs. They can move in and out "Sentient programs. They can move in and out of any software still hard wired to their system. of any software still hard wired to their system. That means that anyone we haven't That means that anyone we haven't unplugged is potentially an agent. They could unplugged is potentially an agent. They could be everyone, they could be no one. Note that be everyone, they could be no one. Note that the three agent names (Brown, Jones, and the three agent names (Brown, Jones, and Smith) are all common last namesSmith) are all common last names

AGENT SMITHAGENT SMITH

The Agents are filmed The Agents are filmed using primarily side using primarily side lighting. This lighting. This technique is typically technique is typically used to show the used to show the separation between separation between good and evil in the good and evil in the self.self.

Side lighting is often Side lighting is often used in two opposing used in two opposing characters to illustrate characters to illustrate conflict between good conflict between good and who evil. and who evil.

AgentsAgents

Symbolism Symbolism

TelephonesTelephones

Telephones are often seen as a communication symbol and Telephones are often seen as a communication symbol and the directors emphasize their importance through the use the directors emphasize their importance through the use of close ups and extreme close ups throughout the movie.of close ups and extreme close ups throughout the movie.

In the Matrix the directors show an opposition between old In the Matrix the directors show an opposition between old and new forms of communication. and new forms of communication.

Often the new “cell phones” used by the characters are Often the new “cell phones” used by the characters are shown as something that serves a minor purpose and are shown as something that serves a minor purpose and are unreliable and therefore are quickly discarded (windows, unreliable and therefore are quickly discarded (windows, garbage).garbage).

Where the analog rotary phones of the past serve a Where the analog rotary phones of the past serve a primary purpose the only reliable trusted escape out of the primary purpose the only reliable trusted escape out of the matrix.matrix.

BibliographyBibliography

http://www.thematrix101.comhttp://www.thematrix101.com

http://www.matrix-explained.com/http://www.matrix-explained.com/symbolism_in_the_matrix.htmhttpsymbolism_in_the_matrix.htmhttp

www.sparksnotes.comwww.sparksnotes.com