Using Image / Text Combinations Coursework (Coursework Sample)

Title: Understanding bad manners
Learner’s name
Affiliated Institute
Introduction
Each society has its set standards of living. The people in the society are expected to behave or execute their daily activities in some given manners. Any behavior that is considered unacceptable to the society is seen as bad manners. Brenner (2007) defined bad manners as the lack of politeness or a well-bred social behavior.
Researchers have found out that people understand a particular message when presented in a variety of forms. One of the effective ways of conveying the message to the audience according to research is by the use of both images and text. While explaining on how text and pictures should be combined effectively, in his book, (McCloud, 1993) outline several ways through which text and images could be combined. This document uses four of the types of text-picture combinations described by McCloud in his book, to explain some of the types of bad manners.
The bad manners
* 726493370205Word-specific combinationWord-specific combinationShouting over the phone is bad manners
Description of message and audience
The message conveyed by the image-text combination is that, shouting to other people over the phone is bad manners. Shouting to other persons, may affect the communication. The target audience of the message is the mobile phones users.
Process summary description
Due to the desire to communicate the message that shouting over the phone is bad manner, i needed to put the idea into a message. Since the message targeted the phone users, the process of developing the image-text combination started with capturing of a picture of a man busy making a phone call. For effective communication, there was need to use a picture of a person making a call. After obtaining the picture, there was need to add text, to give it more meaning. To convey this message, I chose to use the Word-Specific combination, whereby, the words are exhaustive, and they have a meaning even without being combined with the image. I added the text "don’t shout over the phone it is bad manners." Although the picture plays a role, it does not convey the message on its own. The text gives the picture more meaning than if it was not there.
Analysis of photographic principles
The picture was captured while the persons captured in it were not aware. This made it possible to show the indented bad manner without having to act. The picture shows a man making a call. By looking at the picture, the person can be seen opening his mouth widely, which may indicate that the person was angered. However, the picture doesn’t give a conclusive message.
The added text gives a complete message about what the picture intends to communicate to the audience. The text-picture combination succeeds in passing the message to the intended audience, by making the message clear that shouting over the phone is a bad manner. By showing a person holding a phone it sends a quick message the audience that the message being communicated has something to do with making phone calls. The added text compliments it by stating the intended message directly.
* Shouting at adults is bad manners
13220244067Picture-specific combinationPicture-specific combination
Description of message and audience
The message conveyed by the image-text combination is that, it is bad manners for children to shout at adults. This is because it shows a lack of respect. The target audience of the message is the children. The picture-specific combination aims at informing the children that they should be polite when talking with adults, and hence they should not shout at them.
Process summary description
The idea of developing the message started from the desire to communicate to the children that they should not shout at the adults. To convert that idea into reality, there was need to use a picture of an adult warning a kid shouting at an adult. To convey the message effectively, I chose to use the picture-specific combination, as explained by (McCloud, 1993). The picture that I used conveys the message even without the text. I obtained the image and adjusted it to suit my requirement on clarity. I then added the text to compliment the picture in passing the message. The picture shows an adult signaling a kid that he should stop shouting at her. By using a picture which shows an adult and a child, creates a conducive environment for the intended message to be passed. This is because; the photo would interest the kids, by seeing a child like them talk to an adult. Upon reading the text, the kids would then get the message carried by the picture-specific comic.
Analysis of photographic principles
The picture was captured while the persons captured in it were not aware. This made it possible to depict one of the common bad manners with the children. Children are shouting at adults, especially their mother and other people they perceive as not harmful, is a typical scenario. According to many societies, a kid shouting at an adult is considered bad manners. This picture-specific comic aims at educating children that they should not shout at their elder ones.
The picture-text combination succeeds in passing its intended message to the audience (children), by using an easy to understand message. Since children may not be able to conceptualize complex messages, the best was to communicate the intended information to them is by using simple and straightforward messages. This is achieved by using the simple message "shouting at adults is bad manners." The use of picture plays a significant role since it can convey a message even without the text. However, the text complements it, to ensure clarity of the message conveyed to the audience.
* 0318135Duo-Specific combinationDuo-Specific combinationStanding on a chair when eating is bad manners
http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/63/50/06/ob_703c1c_bad-manners.jpg
Description of message and audience
The message conveyed through the picture text combination is that, one should be sited when eating. Standing on the chair when eating is bad manners. The message is targeting children, who are playful, and they do not settle down during table (eating) time.
Process summary description
The idea behind the comic was to develop a message that would inform the children that they should observe table manners. To design the picture to convey the intended message, I needed an image of a child, eating while standing. I obtained the image from the link provided, and it required modification on a few aspects. I adjusted the photo to gain clarity and then added the descriptive text. The nature of text-image combination that I chose here was Duo-Specific combination, as described by (McCloud, 1993). The reason for choosing this combination was that, I wanted to use text which could convey the message even without the image. At the same time, I also consi...