1. Explain why Voices in The Park is an example of a postmodern picturebook.
Voices in The Park is an example of a postmodern picturebook because the reader is constructing the meaning of the text. Also, the text and pictures allow the reader to see the perspectives of the four characters in the picturebook. Also, there was a variation in the layout of each page of the book as well as the illustration style was different for each page. This picturebook follows many of the characteristics that Serafini explains in the textbook.
2. Give examples of how at least three of the picturebook codes listed on pg 78 are used in Voices In The Park.
Codes of Frame-A significant number of the pictures used in Browne's book are framed. The images do not bleed and cover the entire page. When the individual perspective is happy, the frame that encloses that image is normally a brighter color. When the individual perspective is gloomy or upset, the frame that encloses the image is dull or dark in color.
Codes of Color-Browne uses different colors to portray the emotions of the individual perspectives. For example, when the two children are playing together on the money bars, the colors in the image are vibrant and colorful as are the attitudes' of the children. When the children or adults are sad, Browne portrays their emotion by using darker colors and colors that are dull.
Codes of Position and Size-The images in this picturebook are placed strategically the the image in order for individuals to interpret them in a particular way. For instance, when the mother of Charlie is in the picture, she is in a central location illustrating her authority. She is always illustrated as much larger than her son to show her authority over her son. Also, when the woman and man are in a picture together, the woman is illustrated as more affluent as well as your attention is drawn to her to show that her socioeconomic status is higher than the man that is not employed. When both children are illustrated, they are positioned in the center of the image. However, if the woman (mother) is present, she is dominantly in the middle of the image and in the front of the image.
3. Identify and explain the type of "interplay" between the written word and visual images on one of the pages in Voices In The Park.
Browne uses a formal type of font to display the mother in the book. He also uses a bold font to display the thoughts of the unemployed father. For the little boy, Charles, a font is used that is more formal than the font used for the little girl, Smudge; however, it is not as formal as his mother's font. The font used for Smudge is light-hearted and fun. It looks like a child's writing. It is more age appropriate than the font used to portray Charles's thoughts.
4. Identify the art movement or technique that is being used in Voices In The Park.
Anthony Browne uses surrealism. For example, he portrays monkeys as human beings with thoughts and feelings which is a characteristic of surrealism.
5. Conduct an Ideological Analysis and Structural Analysis of Voices In The Park. What is the message? Provide evidence from the images to support your opinion. Use the examples on pg 86, 87,89. I do not expect your analysis to be as in-depth but I would like for you to make two or three insightful observations about the perspectives and social context conveyed through the books words and images.
Ideological Analysis-The two types of families in this book are dissimilar in many ways. The family with the woman and child suggests that there is another individual in the family that is providing for the woman and son. The woman and son are portraying a middle-class family that is provided for and does not necessarily struggle financially. When analyzing the man and his daughter, this suggests that the man could possibly be a single parent, a divorced family, or the mother is working. If the mother is working and the man is not, this was not the typical family structure during this time period. Due to the fact that the man is not working, this is making him feel inferior to others and inadequate. Also, the man and daughter are not dressed very well and look "dirty", thus this shows that they are possibly struggling financially.
Structural Analysis-The fact that the mother stays away from all other individuals in the story stresses that she feels superior to other individuals. She even stays away from her son in the images that depict her son and her together. She is extremely judgmental and feels like she is superior to others. The father of the little girl, Smudge, stays away from other individuals as well due to the fact that he feel helpless, rather hopeless, and a lesser being than other individuals due to his lack of employment. The dogs play together without any reservations which illustrates that they are on an equal basis. The children play together which illustrates that they are less reserved. However, when Smudge states that Charles was not fun at first, this shows that Charles was initially more reserved than Smudge and took after his mother is this aspect.
6. Embed a picture of the cover of Voices In The Park in your blog.
Image-http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7894-2522-5
Art movement. (2014, June 19). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_movement
Serafini, F. (2014). Reading the visual: an introduction to teaching multimodal literacy. New York: Teachers Collage Press.
I liked how you picked up on the colors as well changing with their emotion. The colors really helped convey the characters emotion. You also mention how he used the frames to help convey their emotion. Both working together did this for me as well in the book.
ReplyDeleteKeri,
ReplyDeleteI liked your evaluation of the picturebook. I particularly liked your analysis of the interplay between the text and the character whose view we are experiencing. It is interesting to note how different the text is when each character is giving their point of view, such as the scribble like text of the children and the much more formal text of the mother. Another point that you mentioned was in your ideological analysis of the family dynamics of each family. It is interesting that we automatically assume the mother and child have a father figure that provides for them, and the father and daughter may come off as in a financial situation because of the "dirtiness" of their settings and clothes.
Keri,
ReplyDeleteI like how you analyzed the characters by your Ideological and Structural Analysis. You also picked up on the status that Charles’ mother thought she was superior to others. I called her “snooty”! I didn’t classify them as to lower or middle class but rather that they seemed to be well off and from a different part of town judging from their house and dress compared to Smudge and her father. I questioned to whether Charles had a father and if Smudge had a mother? It doesn’t mention either of them so you are left to make an assumption of whether they are in the picture or not. I agree with your analysis of Smudge’s father. I said he was depressed and down because he didn’t have a job and was about to give up. I did not, however, discuss how the dogs and kids played together and showed a sense of equality. Good observation! I always enjoy reading your posts.
Your comments about the interplay in writing is very similar to mine! I really liked how you talked about the dogs being an equal basis much like how the children don't care about who they are friends with. As we get older we listen to what society says about who we should hang out with and children and dogs haven't had that influence yet.
ReplyDelete