English Visual techniques

Question 1

Allusions

Answer 1

Reference to another text, work of art, historical figure etc. within an artwork. Artists use this to develop meaning by signalling a connection to or awareness of other ideas

Question 2

Angle

Answer 2

The angle used to compose the image. Unusual camera angles can emphasise an action sequence, disorientate the audience and suggest the relationship amongst characters or characters and the landscape

Question 3

Body Language

Answer 3

Facial expressions, gestures, stance or position can convey the attitude, feelings or personality of the individual shown

Question 4

Composition

Answer 4

What is included is deliberately placed. Consider all inclusions and omissions (e.g. surroundings, objects and clothing)

Question 5

Colour

Answer 5

The use of certain colours can contrast and can evoke certain emotions related to a certain situation in the visual imagery.

For example, red = passion, anger, hell, vitality etc.,
blue = peace, harmony or coldness

Question 6

Hue

Answer 6

Refers to the actual colour

Question 7

Tone

Answer 7

Refers to the intensity of the colour

Question 8

Contrast

Answer 8

The arrangement of opposite or differing elements (light and dark, large and small, rough and smooth) to create interest, excitement or drama

Question 9

Depth

Answer 9

Refers to the 3D aspect of the image. Helps create a sense of scale or proportion, and can be used to illustrate the proximity between objects. It can help make certain objects seem distant, and others more close, which contributes to our perception of the object

Question 10

Close ups

Answer 10

A shot in which the frame is almost entirely filled with a character, their face, or an important object.

It is used to create viewer focus and frame whatever is being focussed on as important. It is often used in characterisation. By focussing on a character’s face with a close-up shot, viewers are positioned to more deeply appreciate the character’s emotions.

Question 11

Long shots

Answer 11

A shot that is made up of a large landscape, cityscape or other kind of scene, Generally these are used to get across lots of information at once, such as the layout of a room, the location of an event, the number of people around, etc.

Question 12

Gaze

Answer 12

The way a character looks with their eyes and face. Gaze is a useful way to convey meaning through an image because we can see where and how a figure is looking at something

Question 13

Intra-diegetic gaze

Answer 13

The character is looking at something within the text

Question 14

Extra-diegetic gaze

Answer 14

The character is looking at something outside of the text. In some instances, the subject may be looking directly at the viewer. This is a direct gaze

Question 15

Line

Answer 15

This describes the types of lines used in an image and the effect they have on the viewers understanding of the image.

Jagged or sharp lines - Show anxiety, damage or excitement

Curved lines - Develop feelings of safety and comfort

Lines also work as vectors to point at things

Question 16

Vector

Answer 16

The lines or paths viewer’s eyes follow when looking at an image, usually vectors are deliberately created to lead the eyes to a focal point or important feature. Because we read left to right we tend to follow vectors in the same direction across an image.

Question 17

Salience

Answer 17

How much any section of an image draws the viewer’s eyes – the most salient feature of an image is whatever/wherever the viewer’s eyes are first drawn when they look at it. Salience is always deliberate and usually created through contrast, colour, framing and layout, lighting.

Question 18

Size

Answer 18

This describes the size of an object. Artists often play with the size of parts of their work to develop a particular meaning.

Question 19

Space

Answer 19

Refers to the empty portions of an image. Space can be used to draw attention to the objects that are in the image

Question 20

Symbolism

Answer 20

The use of an image to represent one or more (often complex) ideas

Question 21

Texture

Answer 21

The actual texture of an object. Is it rough or smooth? Does it have ridges and different feelings to touch? –> conveys different senses of comfort etc.

Question 22

Point Of View

Answer 22

Relates to how the viewer is framed with respect to the characters’ point of view. The shot may take place from the perspective of the character, it may be above them, below them or directly level with the character of interest.

As we saw with the Low-Angle and High-Angle shots, the positioning of viewers with respect to characters can evoke very different emotions. If viewers are positioned to view events from a character’s point of view, it allows them to more closely relate to what they are experiencing and gives viewers insight into the character’s perspective.

Question 23

Positioning

Answer 23

Relates to how subjects or other objects have been positioned in the foreground, middle ground and background of an image, artwork, or shot.

Objects in the foreground draw viewers’ attention immediately while objects in the background are not immediately obvious and require more time to observe. Objects in the middle ground and background may be used to frame the objects in the foreground.

Question 24

Low Angle Shot

Answer 24

A shot from a camera angle positioned below the eye line, pointing upwards. It can even be below the character’s feet which is an extreme low-angle shot.

This English visual technique creates a sense of the character being strong and powerful. If used on an object, it positions viewers to perceive the object as important. It may also be used to represent someone literally looking up to something from their point of view.

Question 25

High Angle Shot

Answer 25

A shot taken from above a character or object, looking down upon the subject.

It creates a sense of the character being weak, helpless or intimidated. If used on an object, it positions viewers to perceive the object as unimportant. It may also be used to represent someone literally looking down on something from their point of view.

Question 26

Lighting

Answer 26

How a shot is lit or not lit.

This includes natural lighting (open windows, sun, etc.) and man-made lighting (lights, lamps, torches, etc.) as well as feature lighting such as coloured lights or spotlights. Lighting is closely related to the mood or atmosphere of an image. For instance, low lighting is dark and ominous while soft light is intimate.

Question 27

Foreground

Answer 27

The area of the picture space nearest to the viewer, immediately behind the picture plane, creates a sense of salience and emphasises that figure in the foreground

Question 28

Background

Answer 28

Analysing the background of a picture or frame, located objects behind the primary objects of the image, it creates a sense of inferiority and less importance for objects and people placed in the background