◗▲◆◼=?
There are three levels of anatomy in a visual message: Representationally, Symbolically, Abstractly. I’m trying to explain it but it sounds like I’m talking about some logical /morality problems. Hard to say.
What ducks, sparrows, and parrots have in common are a pair of feathery wings and a hard beak. These features can be recognized by their shape, lines, etc, and help us to identify them as birds. Reality is dominated and based on the visual information that can be seen. All of the visual information have their meaning, that we called it “Representation”
Symbolism means a thing has meanings more than just itself. It can be an object, a letter, or an action. For instance, a cross is a cross(in reality), but at the same time, it symbolizes the Christian. We see a man wearing a ring, we might think he is married.
What about Abstraction? It is a process to simplify all the basic elements that we see. Sometimes, there are no connections between pure abstract and things we already know. It can be a kind of feeling that brings to us. Such as music, it gives you a feeling, which cannot be seen.
A △ can be the symbolism of the word “Triangle” in math homework. On the street, it becomes a warning sign▽ to draw people’s attention. When it is pointing ▷to something, we will see it as a direction tool. Therefore, visual messages can be different based on different environments.
We can see that the visual message can exist at the same time and can be also separated into different levels. And for different people, they may see the same element as having different meanings. That’s the interest of our mind.