Asia Rising and Yellow Promise/Yellow Peril – Lesson 01a
Learning to Look: How to Read Visual Texts
How to Read a Postcard
Postcard Units Handout 01A | PowerPoint file
The Five C’s
Context – When was this made? What is the subject matter? What clues are given for a time frame? Consider clothing, implements – tools, weapons, architecture, etc.
Characters – Who or what is portrayed here? Is it a person? Animal? Symbol? What clues are given about who/what they are?
Color - What colors (if any) are used here? Do you think they were used just for visual appeal? What is the mood or tone established by these colors?
Composition – Look at the use of space. Is one image bigger than another? Is that to suggest a relationship and what kind of relationship? Is the entire space used? Why or why not? What is in the foreground? The background? Do either suggest importance?
Construction – Someone consciously constructed this image for a purpose. Who do you think made this? Why? For what audience? Who would connect with this image? Who would not?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology © 2008 Visualizing Cultures