Visual Research for CS2006 Final Project
Visual curation and research by Jared, Jeremy and Sheryl
I chose this photo as it portrays a person in sadness (or perceived sadness behind that grim face) hiding behind a cheerful exterior, which is what the group wishes to show in one of our images. While the copy has some major spelling mistakes in it, I would like to elaborate more about the concept of this image.
From a technical perspective, the image is mostly in black and white, other than the part where the lady is smiling. From a quick search on the Internet, I realise that many images about depression (or their campaign materials) are in monochrome colours. From a cultural perspective, we can infer that the colours used are a form of symbols to depict the bleakness of life that depression victims feel.
The image and copy below also uses pathos as a form of visual persuasion. By playing with emotions with the words “Are you one of them?” and also showing how the lady is hiding her emotions with a smile, it calls out to people to empathise with her or even identify themselves in her. The model used is also an average looking girl instead of a digitally touched-up supermodel, which helps the audience to connect closer to her.
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I chose this video even though it is not about depression as it conveys the kind of filming and editing technique my group would like to incorporate in our project.
From a technical perspective, the video is edited into a split screen. It encompasses two separate videos of two different people doing similar routines and actions placed side-by-side on the same screen. The two videos eventually come to a standstill as the two people cross paths.
The video uses the gestalt theory of continuation in movement. This can be seen during public transport rides, elevator rides and subjects walking, the direction is (almost) the same. This makes it easier for one to view the video as a whole even though it is split into half. Both videos in the split screen also made sure to have similar speeds so that it does not confuse the viewer further. There is also juxtaposition of these two videos in terms of colours in warm/cool tones. This helps the viewer to differentiate between the two subjects.
Lines (form) are also used in this video in many ways: Airplane rides up, horizons, trains coming into view (directing the eyeline as well) and many more.
