Looking Closely And Thinking On Visual Texts

The processes of looking closely and thinking critically about visual texts are important to art and design practices. Within these processes context and analysing play an important role in looking closely and critically at visual texts. The processes also lead you to become an independent thinker which is vital for any artist or designer.

An important part of the processes of looking closely and thinking critically about visual texts is context. Context is explained clearly in a quote by John J. Ruszkiewicz “Context is nothing more nor less than the who, what, where, when and why that surround every word, image or artifact.” (Ruszkiewicz 32) This describes the history of a visual text which is an important part of the processes as we gain a proper understanding of the text and what the creator is trying to express. Once we know the context behind a visual text we can then begin to think critically about it. This is a necessary process as work needs to have meaning in order for it to be important to art and design practices. Blood Earth Fire is an exhibit at the Te Papa Museum, it is successful due to the context behind the works. The displays each have a wall text which explains the history behind the visual text. This shows that

To analyse means to look at something in depth in order to see what changes can be made and how it can be improved. This is important to art and design practices as it makes work more meaningful and directed and helps with creative thinking. An example of this is my analysis of the well at the botanic gardens, by analysing this i could see ways in which the well could be improved and changes that could be made. Creative thinking is vital for artists and designers and is why analysing is important in the processes of looking closely and thinking critically about visual texts, which are important to art and design