This is the picture that has appeared on your Edline account all year. Your assignment: Wha...?Consider all the approaches to understanding a text that we have studied this year.
1. We've examined overall effects/moods and tried to figure out which details helped get us to those moods, and how.
2. We've examined questions raised by texts, and author's judgments of those question.
3. We've examined tensions created by texts, and author's conclusions about those tensions.
Using some or all of these approaches, examine: What is this text doing? What are its conclusions? Then tell us how did you came to your analysis.
One comment, one response to a comment. Deadline: June 3, 2007. Midnight.
24 comments:
The photo of the four words and four colors makes the viewer study the photo, in a way where they are astounded. They read and must re-read since it is unusual to them. I feel this photo is similar to having a color written out but the ink color would be any other color but the name. (Yellow Blue Red)
Glad you began this blog, JUstin. Extra points. But "so what," right, Justin? Time to get specific about effects, tensions, judgments. What work does this text do? Let's push beyond astounding and unusual.
PHOTO READS: Four Colors Four Words
Taking in the fact this sign is literally four colors and four words has an interesting purpose. The author obviously wants to emphasize the fact that within society there is some diverse solid ground. This photo shows the four DIFFERENT colors being able to come together and create an dependent clause. The author may feel that within society we may not be the same color or the same form, but we are able to come together and stand for something. The form plays a part because each word is not the same. Some contain more or less vowels/letters.
Personally, i feel that Justin has done a brief analysis of this photo. I think he under read the deeper meaning within the photo. If has had Ms. Levine, he should know that her class and way of doing things has complex meaning. Ms. Levine, usually does not put anything in front of us that the answer is plain to see without deep thinking.
So Justin K. like we say in AP/IB, dont be afraid to cross the river.. ***squish, squish, squish*** U just fell off the cliff into vagueness
-Rasheed D. Merrell
Well four colors four words, what is the deeper meaning?
The picture seems to be showing the togetherness of the colors and words in which the author wants to show that everything comes together in some way and some period of time. By the words in the beginning being in the shadow it shows how the photo began to grow and become clearer. I feel that the author of the text is trying to show things finally came together and division no longer lives in the eye of society and individuals. I came to this conclusion because the words and colors are closely put together and the undistinguished words to clarity.
I agree with Rasheed on the idea of unity the author chose to reveal with the words and the colors. Justin just needs to be more specific and let his analysis come out more.
Brittney Avant
The author is trying to express how individualism should be able to be expressed without the judgments that society will place on that person. Being your own unique person shouldn’t exclude an individual, but rather unify them by forming bonds without the judgments. I believe that the phrase “four colors four words” does just this. These words bring about a sense of unity by uniting the contrasting colors and emphasizing the differences between words which is symbolic of individuals in society like you and I.
Because we are now trained on how to analyze texts, we fail to see the aimed simplicity of this one. There are only 3 different words in this picture which leaves us feeling as if we've been forcefully stopped. We feel the need to read further beyond the text, but the lack of words create a tension inside the reader to decipher what the statement is trying to say. The beauty is that the text isn't trying to say something life-changing, but instead make us realize that there are such things that are simple in nature. The nature of the phrase comes more from the colors. It begins with green, which we can associate with nature, of even good fortune. Following it is the purple, connoting loyalty. The red can be associated with passion, and love, another crucial aspect of life. Last, the blue, adding a drop of reality to our themes since blue connotes sadness, just as crucial in our lives as love. The "author" shows us that sadness is the one that seems to prevail, since it is larger and right in front of the audience. However, he is also telling us that there are always good things in our lives, such as love. The text leaves us wondering about complex themes and that is when we fail to see message that our lives aren't as complicated as we think, but also that what there is in life has great things within it, especially love.
Francisco Castaneda
I think most people mentioned the theme of unity because of the subconscious relation between a lot of colors together and rainbows. I'm not saying unity isn't a part of the picture, but the unity comes more from what the colors represent, after all what the colors symbolize is what actual analysis is about.
Francisco Castaneda
Well, when I first read "Four Colors Four Words," the first thing that came to my mind was "Advanced Placement English Literature." It might not be related but I feel that since it is 4 different colors being united and are together as a whole, then it makes me think about how in our class we would always be united, either as a whole class, or in smaller groups everyone would always be united with someone. People being different (as in background and culture) where united in this class and we where able to cooperate within the class to analyze works of literature. I do also feel tensions within this picture. It starts off with the color green, which is regularly associated with nature. THe color purple is associated with royalty and high class. When we arrived our first day of class I know out of nature we sat within our own race. Within the next months everyone got comfortable and started sitting with everyone as a whole, therfore being royal. I'm not sure if I read this picture correctly, but this is my opinion.....
-Allen
In response to Brittney Avants comment:
I agree with the fact that the words are blurry in the beginning and clearer at the end.
The choice of putting the words from foggy to clear emphasizes my interpretation of this picture.
When we arrived at this class we had no clue what was going on. Everything was blurry and I, in my opinion was having second thought about taking this class. Within the next weeks and months I got a hold of the concept and it became more and more clearer of what was really going on. Analyzing works of literature became easier. This is what I think.....
-Allen :D
I think that the "four words four colors" symbolizes unity as chevvon said. To me it seems like the colors and four words are a symbol of simplicity and how in life we don't need to go over the top, but rather just say something as it is. then again like chevvon said this image is a symbol of unity. the number four offers togetherness, making us feel hopeful for a more together and united world.
The image of the "four words and four colors" creates an atmosphere of secrecy because of its background. The image symbolize our life in AP English. The first color "green" helps us understand the sense of new growth which symbolize our first day in AP English. The second color is purple guides us to feel joy toward this class because the color connotes loyalty. The next color "red" enhances the sense of enthusiasm toward this class. Finally the last "blue" creates a feeling of relaxation and tranquility which symbolizes our last day in this class.
I agree with the fact that the image symbolizes our unity toward AP English. The four words four colors united together like we are connected together to participate and contribute to this class. I also agree with Allen that the words are blurry at the beginning and then graudally becomes clear toward the end. This fact represents our struggles to the point where we were all confused and disoriented at the beginning of this class but we are became more clear and understandable as we analyze more this class.
Although analyzing a piece of art is pretty subjective, but I’ll just give my own opinion. “FOUR COLOR FOUR WORDS,” the designer chose to use 4 different colors on 4 separate words, I think this choice creates growth. The first color green symbolizes a good beginning; the second color, purple, connotes reliability, just like we all can rely on each other in class; the third color red, connotes passion, just like we all have the passion, and we enjoy being in class; lastly, the color blue, connotes sadness, I think it symbolizes how we are sad about the class is ending soon(I think xp). It might not be right, but this is my understanding of the picture.
I believe the picture makes the black background being colorful, which then makes me think that words are expressive that makes the COLORS of the words stand out rather than the black.
I somewhat agree with what Allen said and i also want add, that all the colors are close to one another which symbolizes unity and that the structure of words, using CAPS make me realize that the picture shows how STRONG words are in reality. I don't have a clue about what the color has to about anything.
I also agree with Allen about the fact that the words are blurry in the beginning and clearer at the end. I think this artist’s choice creates growth as well. From blurry to clear is just like we found it really hard to do analysis at the beginning, but as time go through, as we practice and practice, the concept of analyzing a piece of literature became clearer and clearer, and at the end we found it way easier than before. That’s my opinion.
I have to agree with Brian about how there is some sort of growth in this picture as the words and color circles get bigger and I agree with Simon about the Capitalization enchancing the power of words. Words hold a meaning, they are letters put together that signify something. The fact of having these words bright (they look like lights, the kind that bussinesses have) helps create an illuminating effect from the black background. These words imitate the power and progression of words and literature and how they guide us with knowledge into paths unknown (such as subjects that we may explore).
Simplicity is beauty isn't it. At least this text I think conveys that. All we see are four words and four colors. Whether or not the color and words have a correlation, isn't up to us, isn't up to anybody, I really doubt there to be any kind of correlation between the words and the color shading those words. Its a very simple picture, and is now full of a multi-verse analysis, given what we know on how to approach an analytical piece, well anything really, since anything can be an analytical piece. The emotions that this evokes right of hand are very simple, kinda dreamy, out-of-this-world, benign even. But when you read the words, "four words four colors," your mind puts the colors and the words together, and there is this bitter entrapment. As if the message is straightforward, four words four colors and nothing else. Kind of like what you see is what you get and nothing more. But most certainly that's not the only conclusion one can come to, this picture is full of ambiguity, where does it begin, where does it end, the piece alone brings up so many questions. Why the black background behind such "beautiful" colors. Beautiful by society standards. Why is the text unclear? So many Q's and so many A's, and I really doubt that there is and true answer, just a bunch of well supported ones. The illustrator probably just drew this up without any of the thoughts, then again, he/she might have drawn this up thinking everything that we are saying, if so, then that illustrator has one hell of a mind. Like I said this just goes to shoe the simplicity in things, and how things can be deeply analyzed or not. Either way, simplicity is beauty, I mean look at all of us with different conclusions about this picture. I mean its not aurora borealis though it possess the same colors of one.
Well I have to respond to a fellow comment, the only one worthy of one is Francisco's. Just kidding, But none of the people I know never get their comments responded to so this is out of sheer sympathy, or not. But hey, looks like old lover boy Frank here agrees with me, Or I agree with him. Simplicity is beauty. But yes, the only thing I don't agree with is the connotations of the colors. I mean they are so uncertain, anyone can make black seem like a sunset. But I won't thrash him for it, I mean it is set in our mind what certain colors lead to. But he Frank is frank on one thing...that is the last color standing out, Blue. Whether it connotes sadness or not isn't up to me, whatever it is, the author either did it on purpose to make it stand out more, give it more a meaning, or the author simply that it looked "cooler" that way. Either way, Franks on to something, and I do agree with him about the whole simplicity and how we fail to see it and all that, but dude, we know you're in love, thanks for making me realize that I am absent of love, pft, you suck man...but I agree with him, we have lots of good things in out lives, but we also got a good deal of bad things in our lives as well, the all balance out. But without the bad, would we see the good as good or just meh...hmm
There is a pattern / corrilation between words and colors. For every word there is a color that corresponses to it. With sush a corrilation, one could say the four words are the four colors green, purple, red, and blue. These colors represent earth, wind fire, water, and heart - GO CAPTAIN PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gabriel Getto
well what i think is that the "four color four words" symbolizes unity no matter how different you are we can all blend in.also i how at first is all blurry and then is clearer, i believe it symbolizes the individuals growth.how things might be difficult in this world but in the end we can overcome it.
i agree with francisco on that the colors stand for different feelings from individuals like red for passion and blue for sadness.how all the colors blend in as unity.
Steering clear of the Captain Planet reference, I will now comment on what Francisco published. I agree with his thoughts about the picture being something simplistic. I don't think the colors are associated with anything. I think it is just there to make you think. Its wierd for the sack of being weird like po mo (post MOdern) no real mean, Its just to make you think thats all.
Hmm...I never though of it that way, thanx Gabe! :D
I agree with those who think that these four words and colors form beauty.
But why did the artist choose these colors? Why green, purple, red, and blue?
They are not all serene, they change, perhaps this picture can refer to growth and change.
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