Torbett Article 2 - Carrol Text - Developing A Repertoire of Skills

One of the topics involving visual culture that I have embraced, and feel as though may be one of the most crucial interdisciplinary approaches to this movement is visual storytelling.  As a Graphic Designer (Visual Communicator), and artist, I feel that telling a story or sending a message visually is at the core of visual literacy.

For this topic in Carroll text, I chose an article titled Encouraging Visual Storytelling (Moving Forward), organized by the Alumni Study Group for Narrative Art, Maryland Institute College of Art.

The article opens by stating that the interest in narrative art and visual storytelling has moved to the forefront of art education as a practice.  Visual Storytelling reflects n the intertwining of several ideas.  These ideas include the conception that children look at most things in the sense of a story.  Also, the idea that graphic narrative conventions helps aid a child to tell more visually appealing stories can only prove to be a positive influence on the learning child.  "The research of Brent and Marjorie Wilson and Janet Olson have done much to forward the practice of developing narrative techniques.  In Practice, narrative skills seem particularly useful in providing a bridge from early schematic drawing to a more flexible and dynamic language that can express emotions, action, interaction, special effects, time and weather, all in the service of a story."

Jerome Brunner has developed a conclusion that through story, we gather and build most of the meaning that we get from life. We tell stories to reflect upon past occurrences in our everyday life.  Therefore, it can only make sense that we utilize art in storytelling, whether the story derives from literature, drama, music, mythology, etc.

The case is made when stated that the best reason of all to pursue visual storytelling as a means of visual expression is that it brings forth an authentic voice and gives it an artful format.  In telling a story, no matter how tragic, sad, funny, moving, dramatic, or remarkable, a visual meaning is constructed.