The Power of Visual Media

For my extra blog I wanted to continue the discussion of the last blog concerning making an impact in the community. As I was writing I began to get really excited just thinking about the impact of art and it's role in the community and in the world we live in. Just think how powerful a single image is? The eye is the gateway to the soul; and what we look at immediately enters our minds and hearts, with our without our consent. To impact communities, we must impact the visual landscape. Many times it is the eye more than the other senses that makes all the difference. Just imagine this scenario... You are walking down the street and you smell cinnamon roles. You then hear someone calling out about them. You are hungry at the time and the smell is intoxicating. The sound of the vender selling them causes your mouth to water a little. Your thinking, I want one of those, but you are in a hurry and know you don't have time to stop. Your are thinking about all the things you have to get done today and also know you are running tight on cash. You ignore the smell and sound, until, suddenly, you come upon a huge sign right in front of your eyes of a giant cinnamon role! The image is no doubt photoshopped, the icing is way too perfect and creamy, but YOU'RE sold!! You turn into the shop and get yourself a role. This is a silly example, but it goes to show just how powerful visual media is. Anyone in advertising will agree with this. It's like shopping. If I don't have the money, I don't look, because I know that when I see something I love and can't live without, I have to buy it. I get really excited thinking about this since it is encouraging as an artist to realize that your art, and your students art, really CAN impact the world. Our television, film, media and clothing all contain art. DM News Magazine says that "each of us sees more ads alone in one year than people of 50 years ago saw in an entire lifetime." Just think how we could impact our school and communities by flooding them with beautiful art that speaks about hope and social change? If the statement "a picture is worth a thousand words" is true, we can speak volumes by being an advocate for the arts!