I felt that
I needed to be able to relate to the role played by either the interactive
participant or the represented participant. Not both and yet I discovered that
this was not an either/or situation. We each participate as interactive or
represented depending upon whether we are providing or receiving information. What
was interesting to me is that we are both depending upon the situation and the
text in which we are viewing. Interactive participants are described as,” the
participants who speak and listen or write and read, make images or view them”
(Kress & van Leeuwn, 48). So essentially I would be a representation of
this definition if I were in the midst of a conversation, participating in an
assignment, or taking in and absorbing information. Yet as a represented participant
which is described as, “participants who constitute the subject matter of the
communication; that is the people, places and things” (Kress & van Leeuwn,
48). I would be more of an observer than perhaps a creator.
In terms of
correlation, if several individuals were to gaze upon a symbol that society has
created to play a specific role, perhaps a warning sign. All individuals would
come to the same conclusion in terms of the information we were being given due
to the recognition of that symbol. However, in other instances information may
be gathered differently and interpretations could vary significantly. Many of
us have grown up being told that we have strengths and weaknesses especially in
regards to academics. From teachers, to counselors to parents and tests we are picked
apart. Some have been labeled math and science while others are labeled as
creative. In reading this chapter, I have to say that perhaps it really isn’t
that any single one of us has a weakness, perhaps we are not utilizing or being
given to tools to translate, describe and retain information in a manor to
which we can relate to.
As a creative, or creator of sorts I often put a lot of
thought into a project; especially in terms of stylized shoots. They each have
a message that I want to convey, a topic that I want to bring forward. Yet
while my message is often translated within the parameters of which I was
hoping; there are always those few who do not “get it”, “see it” or “translate”
it in a way that I would deem appropriately. In the past that has frustrated
me. However after reading this and after reading others journals; I feel more
open to others interpretations of my work and the messages I am sending. I can’t
help but to think that when I am on the interactive participant side; I need to
be more open to individual’s translations. I may just gather inspiration or new
ideas from them.
Resources
Kress, Gunther & van Leeuwen, Theo (2006). Reading
Images: The Grammar of Visual Design. New York: Routledge.
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