A short lesson on how to analyse an image, which leads to how to analyse media in our daily lives.

1. Image&Media
Analysis
by Frank Curkovic

2. Warm-up (3-5mins):
With no direction, critically
analyse the following image in
small groups.
It is a painting done by Japanese artist,
Tetsuya Ishida.
Be prepared to share your
answers.

4. Discuss (3-5mins):
How did you go about analysing the
artwork? What did you look for etc.?

5. Discuss (cont’d):
How would you assign this task to
students?
How could you
What type of Are there
How would you guide their
criteria could steps that
guide them thought
you ask them could be
through it? process etc. to
to consider? involved?
evaluate it?

6. Analysing an Image
This is a document I usually
use with my students
http://tinyurl.com/8542cyc
1. Initial Reaction
2. Description
3. Analysis & Interpretation
4. Judge & Evaluate

7. Analysing an Image
When looking at an image,
consider the following:

8. Analysing an Image

9. Analysing an Image

10. Analysing an Image

11. Analysis
Apply the analysis to the
following image:
Banksy
“Sale Ends Today”
Oil on canvas
2006

12. Brainstorm
What types of different media
do you experience in your daily
life?

13. Consider
As the use of screens and visuals
continue to grow and grow, is the image
analysis applicable to other visual media
as well (ads, infographics, film, photography, websites, video games etc.)?
Why or why not?
Are additional or different criteria
required? Share your thoughts.

14. Analysing Media http://tinyurl.com/7ad7aaj

15. ANALYSING
MEDIA
Screens & visual communication permeate our lives. These forms of
visual communication usually strike a chord for the receiving audience.
This can be done intuitively or be highly calculated. When constructing or
deconstructing media, consider the following:
1. Initial Reaction & Description
What do you see?
What is your first impression?
What is happening in the work?
What is the story and what significance does it have?
2. Analysis, Interpretation & Evaluation
What is the purpose? Is there an intended audience for the work?
What is the general ambience of the work?
What mood does it create? How does it do this?
What signs and symbols do we find? What role do they play in the mediums’ impact?
What is the ideology of the piece (what is the idea behind it)?
What is the agenda of the producer?
If figures are included, what can be said about their appearance, relations or
emotions?
Is the background significant?
Are any themes evident (jealousy, ambition, passion etc.)?
How is language used? Does it provide information or generate emotional
response? Were any techniques such as humour, alliteration or
innuendo used?
What typefaces were used and what do they convey?
What sociological, political, economic or cultural attitudes
are indirectly reflected in the work (sexism,
alienation, conformism etc.)?

16. What further aesthetics decisions were
made?
Artwork
(Fine art, comic books etc.)
•How are the basic
components or elements
arranged? Framing?
•Balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical,
radial), Colour (light, tone, hue, warm/
cool), Composition, Contrast, Direction,
Emphasis, Form, Line, Movement,
Repetition, Rhythm, Scale, Space, Shape,
Size, Symmetry, Texture, Value
•Does the medium influence or
impact the message/meaning
etc?

17. Photography
•What kind of a shot is it?
•What significance do long
shots, medium shots, close-up
shots have?
•What about the lighting, use of color,
angle of the shot?
•Framing: rule of thirds etc.
•Focus/Depth of field/Lens
•Colour vs. BW

18. Design
(Advertising: print, commercial,
websites)
•How are the basic components or
elements arranged?
•How are the following elements/principles
used? (Alignment, Colour, Contrast,
Direction, Dominance, Emphasis, Font,
Harmony, Proximity, Repetition, Scale, Space,
Layout, Type, Size, Texture, Value, Variety,
Unity)
•What is the relationship between pictorial
elements and written material and what does
this tell us?
•How is space used? (positive/negative?
empty/full?)
•Does the item being advertised
play a role in culture and
society?

19. Film,
Video & Video
Games
•Mise-en-scene: costumes, props, lighting,
characters (as represented by actors or models),
special effects, sound effects and anything else
which is "put into the frame".
•Framing: rule of thirds etc.
•Camera placement
•Editing/montage, camera angle, soundtrack,
atmosphere, lighting, contrast, stillness vs.
movement (to move the camera or not?),
metaphor, perspective, titles
•Focus/Depth of field/Lens
•Colour

20. !
Think
•How does the use of media influence
culture?
•How can the use of media influence what we
do in the classroom and how we learn?
•How can we learn to evaluate and create our
own media?

21. FrankCurkovic
http://flavors.me/frankcurkovic

22. Resources:
How to Analyze an Advertisement http://tinyurl.com/78of9sh
Celebrating the Art of Cinematography http://tinyurl.com/73sp5fp
Image Analysis (via Mediaknowall) http://tinyurl.com/6qfkouj