Lady

Everyone has heard the age-old " a picture is worth a thousand words" clichй but exactly how true is this thought?

The question of a picture being worth a thousand words has been debated endlessly over the years and now I find myself asking the same question: is a picture really worth a thousand words?

To come to a rational conclusion I think that there are more than personal preferences and opinions to consider. I think that the relationship between text and pictures too must be looked at and I intend to do this in my essay.

There are many elements of this debate that could very well have us believe that a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.

For example, it might be thought that pictures would communicate with the preceptor much quicker than information could be obtained by reading as the use of such thing like colour would grab the eyes' attention before the eye would then "jump" towards the text.

An example of this might be when we are driving. When we see the road sign for an air port, we are shown a small image of a plane with the words "air port" underneath. Our eyes can be attracted to the image before the words and therefore we already know that the air port is ahead before we read the information below. This shows how the image would have been quicker in sending the information to us than the text.

Upon taking this concept into account, it might be easy to think that a picture could be more important and more effective than text, yet, I still intend to outline why I think that it is the relationship between text and pictures that define what is in fact most effective in sending and receiving information.

I think it might be important to state that images have always played a vital role in society, both today and in the past.

Some might be inclined to think that the purpose of an image is to help understanding and meaning of a given subject or topic. Many artists like to paint pictures using their images as metaphors for life or situations. If this thought is taken on board then it might be thought that the initial purpose of any image is indeed to encourage the reader or viewer to understand the topic in hand. This too can be related to words. The purpose of words may too be seen as to understand something. If words and images are then used together are they not both enhancing the purpose of each other and in turn therefore enhancing the understanding and meaning of that thing?

It might be thought as well that looking at both text and images, is a form of reading. Pictures need to be read as much as texts do. They both need to be "decoded" as much as each other and interpreted and comprehended.

On that note it might be relevant to consider all images and texts as symbols. Each symbol is intended to be visually looked at and decoded and eventually understood by the viewer. The viewer then is able to interpret the ideas behind the image or text for themselves which could then lead to more text or images being formed.

An example of this can be simply looked at when we think of the role that art and images played in the society of the eleventh and twelfth centuries onwards. It is understood that the time immediately preceding what became known as the "Romanesque" period (c.1100-1120 A.D.) was a pretty grotesque time for Europe. It was a time when she was threatened by war on three sides. There was widespread poverty and the general trend was that education and literacy were seen as upheavals not worth worrying about. All emphasis was put on saving their souls in preparation for "the last judgement". It was even thought by some that the world would end in the year 1000 A.D. and that it was then that people were to be judged. However, when the world did not end, the people of Europe cheered up and a wave of thanksgiving and praise for God swept across vast amounts of land. It was because of this that the "Romanesque" architecture and art period came about. Churches and paintings were made in order to give thanks to God for sparing them.

Because a great emphasis had never been put on education, it was not uncommon for the average person to be illiterate. The famous images we know of today like Gistlebertus' "Last Judgement" at Auton Cathedral for example served the vital purpose of educating the illiterate people about Christ and the bible.

So throughout history a great reliance was placed on images to educate and inform people of various things.

During these times, the whole bible story could be found as paintings and sculptures in various different Cathedrals around the globe, particularly in Europe.

Take the Sistine Chapel for example. Do we think that the ceiling which was painted by Michelangelo in 1508 is worth a thousand words?

This is a sample from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

i

I think that yes, this image is worth a thousand words and more and it is famous and magnificent and should be appreciated. Furthermore, I do agree that if it had been accompanied by text then it would not have certainly been less attractive! However, I do think that the texts that have been wrote about it are essential for us to really appreciate its true value and meaning. I think also that such paintings by such artists, had the artists written about their own works, would be understood and respected more.

It is for this reason; understanding,