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The Format is the Message
Size does matter when it comes to prints.
“Medium is the message,” exclaimed Marshall McLuhan, meaning that the carrier of the message is as telling as the message itself. Print the same words on a billboard or include it as a small card within an intimate letter, and the meaning won’t be the same. But isn’t the size of the print alone also an active player in this dynamic?
Proxemics: The Psychology of Space
Proxemics, a term coined by anthropologist Edward T. Hall, refers to the study of personal and social space and how humans use and perceive it. Hall identified four key zones of interpersonal space, which can be extrapolated to the interaction with visual objects like photographic prints. Before we turn to that, let’s examine his idea in detail.
Psychological Zones of Space
Psychological zones of space, derived from the field of proxemics, describe how humans perceive and interact with their surroundings and others based on spatial boundaries. These zones are categorized by proximity to the individual and are tied to distinct psychological, social, and functional characteristics. Understanding these zones helps illuminate how space influences human behavior and perception.