Chapter 3

This chapter is about other types of visual representations besides the narrative structure. Classificational processes show a “kind of” relation—a taxonomy, with Subordinates and Superordinate, and sometimes Interordinates. Participants at the same level are represented as being the same kind. For covert taxonomy, the overarching category is not shown or named; instead, the Superordinate is inferred from the similarities between the subordinates as the viewer may perceive. Therefore, it is necessary to have symmetrical composition to make the subordinates similar, such as using equal distance and same size. I think the interesting thing about classificational process is how the hierarchical tree structure corresponds to the hierarchy of social power. The authors compare taxonomy, flowchart and network to social organizations or activities. The taxonomy is like a static, hierarchical organization with everything in order according to the level of power. The flowchart shows the process of a structured, goal-oriented activity. The network is like a form of social organization which has many complicated, intersecting relations.

The second representational structure in this chapter is the analytical process, with one Carrier (the whole) and any number of Possessive Attributes (the parts). The thing about analytical process is that it shouldn’t go into too much detail. If there are too many attributes, the important attributes—the message we’re trying to show—cannot stand out. The authors also point out that the analytical process is “default.” It is identified through the absence of vector, symmetry, tree structure, and symbolic attributes. So the analytical process is the basic element in images. The third structure is the symbolic process, with one Carrier, who is being represented, and Symbolic Attribute, which represents the meaning or identity. The symbolic process can be symbolic attributive or symbolic suggestive. In the symbolic suggestive process, the meaning is established with no symbolic attributes. The meaning comes from within the qualities of the Carrier itself, rather than from the symbolic attributes. The symbolic suggestive is different from the analytical process, because the detailed attributes of the Carrier is de-emphasized in the symbolic process.

With all these different types of visual structures, is it possible for one image to have more than one representational structure? Or are they all exclusive? For an image with a vector, the individual actor and goal can still have the analytical structure with several possessive attributes. But since the analytical process is the default, the main structure of the image would still be the narrative. Besides the analytical process, other types of representational structure can coexist in the same image as well. When there are more than one representational structures, we have to identify the one that is dominating, and the other processes are embedded, so that we can understand the main message and the minor messages that the image is trying to convey.