As you develop an interpretation about the meaning of an image on its own or as part of a multimodal piece, be sure to consider genre, features, purpose, and audience together. Although a composer’s choices about the type of image and its features are usually deliberate, they don’t necessarily convey the same meaning to all viewers in all contexts. They may not work the way the composer intended, or they may carry additional meanings the composer didn’t anticipate.
Consider student writer Ian Washburn’s analysis of two news photos showing the toppling of a Saddam Hussein statue in 2003, during the United States’ war with Iraq.
Toppling of Saddam Hussein statue: Two views
Analysis of two photos: Toppling of Saddam Hussein
Washburn interprets the differences in the images by studying both the perspective and the point of view of each. He also hints at the purpose of the image in his discussion of the initially released photo. Examining static images in this way helps the viewer think carefully about a composer’s message and consider possible meanings.
Activity 3: Your understanding of static images
Related topics:
Genre: What kind of image is it?
Features: Context, perspective, and elements
Purpose and audience: Why and for whom are the images created?