Visual: Literacy, Thinkin', & Culture.

If someone drew a picture,                         ^, and asked, "Hey!, what does that look like to you?",  you would say, "That right there, is an eye my friend.", well that's what I would say anyways.

Our minds can read images like they are written in a book. It's because of the universal assumption that this image is this and that image is that. We can relate pictures that look similar to things in real life that helps us identify those images. Rarely people would say that image above is a circle filled in with a light sky blue shaded color inside an almond like shape line. It's just isnt common. A good example that demonstrates my opinion is the game Pictionary. People pick up a card and it contains a word that they must draw and their partner must figure out that drawing. If the drawer illustrates that word well, the guesser will have an easy time knowing what it is because they are able to familiarize that drawing to the things they've seen in person. And with those "rare" people, you'll just never win a game of Pictionary.

In our culture, visual presentations are how we understand best, or at least it's fun to look at and admire. Babies are able to enjoy the loveliness of cute images and laugh at their own will. Musicians are able to hear music from music notes on a piece of paper. Dancers can create visuals from their bodies. Images are a way for us to communicate and socially connect with others without having to say anything at all.

Most of my opinions formulate from Scott McClouds, Understanding Comics.