An Eclectic Approach to the Interpretation of Visual Statements.

A visually literate person's lexicon for interpreting visual statements, without regard to medium, could include an eclectic array of possibilities. Some definitions and demonstrations of the various approaches are presented. The premodern, or connoisseur's approach, is characterized by a central concern with the assessment of quality, and such assessment was predicated on a deep conviction of a hierarchical aesthetic. The connoisseur's approach encompasses the study of iconography with traditional symbolism and traditional social interpretations. A modern, or structural, analysis entails looking beyond subject matter to the underlying structure of a visual statement. Modern art has celebrated structure and pure form as an end in itself. Postmodernist thought rejects structure especially, along with most previous approaches to interpreting visual statements. As visual communication becomes more important, semiotics, hermeneutics, and deconstruction are increasingly advocated. Whatever the approach, the examination of the visual statement leads to better understanding and appreciation of a broader range of visual statements. (Contains 22 references.) (SLD)