Browsing by Subject "Visual literacy"

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A glimpse behind the curtain : understanding Charles Willson Peale’s use of allegorical forms in museum education
(2011-12) Barras, Lindsay Elizabeth; Bolin, Paul Erik, 1954-; Mayer, Melinda
This thesis examines Charles Willson Peale’s utilization of visual metaphors within his founding institution, The Philadelphia Museum. After establishing himself as a portrait painter, it became second nature for Peale to employ an aesthetic approach when developing museum exhibits and programs. Throughout his practices he continuously used imagery and objects to represent broader fields of research, along with his views as a naturalist and American patriot. By using these allegorical forms to arouse the public’s curiosity, he was able to attract more visitors to his museum and subsequently draw them into the learning process.
Is there a difference or is it just fabric? : implicit cognition and the headscarf
(2016-12) Mattar, Lina Issam; Schallert, Diane L.
The research presented in this paper offers preliminary findings of non-Muslim peers’ perceptions of Muslim women, who wear the headscarf. To which degree does a piece of fabric illicit negative stereotypes of Muslim women? And how does it affect their non-Muslim peer’s interaction with them? To investigate these question, a sample of 108 men and women from the undergraduate subject pool of a public university in Texas completed a survey comprising several scales to measure general stereotypes and perceptions of Muslim women, and qualitative reflections and responses to images and information provided. The most interesting and compelling general result is that though the majority of participants in my study professed egalitarian beliefs and passionately support Muslim women’s constitutional rights, the headscarf still served as an implicit trigger for some degree of negative stereotyping. Including tendency for socially desirable and Moderacy Response Style (MRS). Thus, I could assert that it is not simply fabric; the wearing of the headscarf seemed to impact the overall evaluation of the woman in a negative direction when compared to women not wearing the headscarf. Interestingly, the findings further suggest that clothing stereotypes, including the headscarf as a negative marker, and attractiveness play a role in first impression formation of Muslim women. I found that having attractive facial features led to higher ratings on several positive attribute scales than were received by a less attractive person not wearing a headscarf. Finally, qualitative data indicated that style and color of the headscarf’s fabric affects perceptions too. Many participants preferred lighter colored scarves that complemented the woman’s complexion, and fashionable attire.
Photo manipulation: the influence of implicit visual arguments on dual processing
(2015-05) Lazard, Allison Joan; Mackert, Michael
Individuals view an overwhelming number of mediated messages every day, even if most of these messages are merely glanced at or given minimal amounts of attention. It is not possible or advantageous for individuals to critically evaluate all messages they encounter. In that first glance or initial impression, however, our brains process the visual arguments designed by photo manipulation presented in messages. This happens instinctually, almost instantaneously, and most often underneath our radar of consciousness. Following, individuals decide to attend to the information (or not) though conscious processing. Regardless of decisions for elaborative processing, however, the initial visual processing of photo manipulated arguments influences how individuals think, feel, and behave – whether they are aware of it or not. This dissertation contributes to our understanding of the role of implied visual arguments for persuasive message processing in three ways. First, Experiment 1 identified and provided empirical evidence for effects of photo manipulation as a visual persuasion technique. This experiment was a necessary first step in exploring the cause-and-effect relationship of photo manipulation and attitudes to better understand influences on message perception. Second, Experiment 2 tested currently used dual processing approaches for persuasive messages to overcome the gaps that currently exist. Theoretical frameworks widely used in advertising and communication research – ELM and HSM – largely overlook the influence of visual communication and visual processing. These models do not account for the current understand of the brain mechanisms and processes for message processing. Findings from Experiment 2 provide evidence for the need to refine these models to account for influential visual processing variables that are largely absent from the literature. Third, findings from both experiments contributed to the conceptual refinement of visual literacy with evidenced-based support for the boundaries of when this concept is (or is not) influential for assigning meaning to visual messages.
The art of medicine : a narrative case study of an art museum workshop series for first-year medical students
(2019-01-31) Anderson, Carolyn Claire; Adejumo, Christopher O., 1959-
Utilizing a narrative case study methodology, this research examines stakeholders’ experiences of a repeat-visit workshop at the Blanton Museum of Art for first-year students of the Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. The workshop aims to nurture students’ skills in visual literacy, self-care, and empathetic communication so that they are better prepared in their undertakings as medical students and future doctors. The workshop’s key stakeholders include art museum educators from the Blanton Museum of Art, faculty of the Dell Medical School, and first-year Dell Medical School student participants in the workshop. Through direct observation and semi-structured interviews, this research uncovered meaningful insights surrounding the motivations, implementation, and impacts of the workshop from the perspectives of key stakeholders. By analyzing the value that key stakeholders ascribe to their experiences of the workshop, this study demonstrates the educational value of art museum experiences in medical education and one museum’s commitment to community and societal wellbeing.