Visual Literacy and Media Literacy: A Comparison

After doing a little studying of visual and media literacy, I find it interesting how these two ideas have many similarities, but at the same time have many stark differences. On the surface it is obvious that they both have two parts; VL calls them encoding and decoding while ML calls them construction and deconstruction. It is also apparent that both of them have levels of experience that very from doing/producing up to symbolizing/analyzing. One glaring difference is the fact that VL is focusing on visuals wheres ML has multimedia at its disposal and chooses senses based on a wide array of factors.

A concept that emerges from ML that is disheartening is how information that was eliminated by the creator is lost information. Media shows exactly what the producer wants it to show. Visuals aren't quite as cut-and-dried since the decoder has more room for interpretation and the context of the visual cannot be manipulated as thoroughly as something more multimedia oriented. This isn't to say it cannot be accomplished, but it is more difficult and requires much more planning and thought, since you can only control one aspect of the design.

Both VL and ML are very direct in their purpose and they both try and simplify difficult topics. However, VL tends to help organize the visual cues and uses design to make sure the message being sent is clear while ML has the ability to skew or sway the uniformed deconstructor in their interpretations.

I feel as though both types of literacy have strong influences on the Democratic process. You are hard-pressed to find a newspaper that doesn't contain some type of political cartoon (VL) or a television show that has commercials geared towards the programs viewing audience. It is also apparent that both literacies are shaping beliefs and attitudes of EVERY demographic. From the daycare newsletter for my son (with cute duckies and turtles) to commercials during Martha Stewart for assisted living centers, everyone is a target for media in some way, shape or form. What is encouraging to see is how both literacies strive to make the learner more of an abstract thinker and help them learn how to ask the right questions and think for themselves. If more of the general public would do this, I think media would be forced to rethink their methods and we would have a stronger nation, both academically and globally orientated.