The Mechanics of Communication
We need communication in our lives, without it we would
not be capable of working together or understanding one another.
Process School: Aims to differentiate between the various
separate elements and also the various interrelated parts of the communication
process in order to see how the process as a whole functions.
Semiotic School: Concentrates on “text” on the signs and
codes that text is comprised of, on the people who decode them, and on the
social context within which both text and audience exist.
The Communication Process:
To communicate the message your portraying to your audience
successfully, it is recommended to focus on the four following communication
process stages.
- You: The originator of the message, the communicator
- Message: the “thought” to be encoded by you and the code used to encapsulate that thought.
- Channel/medium: the physical means and media type by which your code is carried
- Destination: the decoding of your message and the intended destination of that message
You: As the encoder, the illustrators style of communication will depend on several factors – age, personality, interests, environment, cultural background, education, and experience. The illustrators work with thrive from all of their own being. As life changes and the occurrences that happen as we grow, whether it be permanent or temporary, it will reflect in our future work and continue to expand and develop over the span of our careers.
Message: To formulate a message, the illustrator employs a
code. A code is a system or group of signs, governed by an overall collection
of rules shared by both sender and the audience, that is used to transmit a
message over time and space. The code is depicted visually; visual code. They
execute the message by using artistic conventions such as space, texture,
light, tone, color, etc. as well as how they are constructed formally; also
known as composition.
Sign = signifier + signified
Icon: Is a sign that closely resembles the object it is
signifying.
Symbol: Is a sign that is culturally agreed upon but has no
(visible) connection with what it signifies.
Index: Is a “natural” sign, which has a physical connection
between the sign and what it signifies.
The Iconic Sign: Is not reliant on any specialized knowledge;
in order to be fully understood it simply needs to have been encountered and
remembered by the interpreter.
The Symbolic Sign: Is a more complex form of sign that icon.
It has little or no visual connection to the object it signifies.
The Index Sign: Is a sign that occurs naturally.
Key elements within iconic visual systems:
- Setting
- Costume
- Character
- Composition
- Color
- Properties
- Body language
- Drama
Channel/Medium: The physical means of directing
communication between a communicator and an audience. (Paint, digital, drawing,
etc.)
Destination: Refers to the people who decode the messages,
in other words, the audience. (Advertising in children’s fiction and
non-fiction, adult fiction, corporate work, entertainment, music, etc.)
