How text can affect an image.

Text can have a powerful affect on an image. When looking at an image we generally assume the meaning behind it which may be very apparent, where as adding text it can either reinforce our first thoughts on the meaning or create a whole new meaning that we may of not even thought of. It can convey emotions that we may have overlooked from a still image and that may be the underlying message.

Propaganda uses this technique, especially during the first and second world war. In some cases it was made to try and distort your view of things that you may of thought were normal or friendly yet in fact the state would find it a threat. This American propaganda poster was made to warn against civilians leaking information about troop movements. The woman in the photograph would appear to be your normal friendly neighbour but the text creates a feeling that you can’t trust anyone. Text can be used in various ways to create different feelings and if used in the right way it can be very strong or influential.

How text generates emotion.

Linking with the previous principle, text can be used to create a different emotions toward the image and of course help us to discover and understand underlying emotions that the character or main subject of the image may have. For example illustrator Raymond Pettibon creates striking images using just the simple black lines and white space. The first image initially is very disturbing and aggressive however when you read the small caption below it enters you into the head of the victim showing more to their personality, creating a different dimension onto the picture. It shows a more vulnerable side and helps us to identify with the character rather than it being an anonymous man victim to a brutal act.

The second image ‘I see before me words you should not have written’ creates the same urge like the previous one, making you want to find out more about the story, you want to find out what these ‘words you should not have written’ are, almost like you are concerned for the character. What is it that is made his so uneasy or stressed? The image plays off the text as much as the text plays off the image and so if the body language was not captured as well as it has been it may not work as well as the illustrator would of hoped.