Generating Meaning and Visualising Self: Graphic Symbolism and Interactive Online Cartoon

Abstract

From a visual literacy perspective, images engender a diversity of meanings. Cartooning is one form of visual expression that has the ability to present layers of understanding in suggestive forms combining visual and textual Iiteracies. Reading cartoons especially those with editorial or satirical intent, reveal frames of meaning and graphic symbolism encoded through socio-cultural understandings. The use of cartooning as a communicative medium in interactive design allows information to be communicated broadly and rapidly. 'War and Peace' is an example of web-based educational design that uses cartooning as the mode of communication. It exemplifies the way cartooning can efficiently deal with information in a non-linear and framed manner particularly pertinent to interactive communication. BIONOTE Anne Bamford has lectured in Art Education and is currently lecturing in interactive media and learning design at the nationally and internationally recognised Institute for Interactive Media and Learning at the University of Technology in Sydney. Anne is chair of the Australian Institute of Art Educators National Research Council and on the editorial committee of Australian Art Education. She is the Director of Visual Arts for the Centre for Research in Education and the Arts. Anne has extensive experience in developing curriculum support material for teachers and interactive media in tertiary teaching and learning. Her current research interests are in visual literacy and adolescents and the use of interactive media in teaching and learning. Andrew Fran~is is currently lead web designer at the Institute for Interactive Media and Learning, University of Technology, Sydney. Australia. A graduate of the Swinburne School of Film and Television he has produced animation, collaborated with artists and has taught subjects in interactive multimedia and web design. He was a participant in the New Talent Pavilion at MILIA'98 in Cannes France and recently a team-member in the award winning Stuff-Art99 online initiative. Learning for the Future' Proceedings of the Learning Conference 2001 • 3 Generating Meaning and Visualising Self: Graphic Symbolism and Interactive Online Cartoon Anne Bamford, The University of Technology, Sydney Andrew Francois, The University of Technology, Sydney