Pictures Show Emotion Better than Words Essay - 936 Words

Pictures Show Emotion Better than Words In Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, an image is defined as â€Å"a vivid or graphic representation or description.† However, a painting can be so much more than this. In Mitchell Stephens’ essay, â€Å"‘By Means of the Visible’: A Pictures Worth,† Erasmus is quoted as saying, â€Å"Painting is much more eloquent than speech, and often penetrates more deeply into one’s heart† (473). Two online paintings that are examples of this are Starry Night, by Vincent van Gogh, and The Scream by Edvard Munch. Both paintings are very well known and both evoke strong but different emotions. Paintings like these have been described with words over and over again, but they can only be fully experienced by†¦show more content†¦Stephens asks, â€Å"How can we develop a lexicon of images if we have no way of determining which of the many possible interpretations of an image is correct?† (484). While this is a valid po int, people should not worry about what is the correct interpretation, but instead should focus on the beauty and versatility of the picture. Another valid example of a painting that shows strong emotion is The Scream, by Edvard Munch. This painting is a bit simpler and straightforward, but its emotion is still very powerful, and many different interpretations are possible. What the viewer sees is a man standing on some sort of bridge or boardwalk. The man has his hands on his face, looking as though he is screaming. Screaming is a very strong emotion that can mean several different things. The man could be screaming in happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, or fright. Since the viewer can not see what the man is looking at, the viewer has no idea which of the emotions the painter is trying to portray. However, this is what allows the viewer to interpret the painting in his or her own opinion, because anything could be right depending on how one looks at it. Words do not have this ability. Usually there is a right or wrong answer as to what the author is trying to say through his words. Also, words just canno t show emotion so easily. In a poem or story in which a person screams, the author has to say â€Å"ahhhhhh!† or â€Å"she screamed.† It just does not have theShow MoreRelatedReview Ofshow And Tell By Scott Mccloud1285 Words   |  6 Pagesare many different ways to tell a story, but which way is the best? As mentioned by Scott McCloud, young kids read books with many pictures, and as they develop into adults, they read books with less and less pictures, but is this the best way to read stories? There is a better method to read a story, and that method is through comics. In McCloud s graphic essay Show and Tell, McCloud proves that through the use of both writing and illustrations in comics, comics are the best form of literatureRead MoreWhy Are You Persuaded By Logic Or By Emotions?765 Words   |  4 Pagesby emotions? 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