Blog Three: Can Pictures Say More Than Words?

Blog Three: Can Pictures Say More Than Words?

By Hollie Gill.

Place can be established through language, whether it be spoken, written, or read (Tuan, 1991). Is this the same for establishing place within cyber space? There are many ways of constructing a sense of place on the internet, from written words to pictures. There are some social networks that center on the idea that a picture can say more than words. In some cases this is absolutely true. On the Facebook network, Stories That Shocked The World, the pictures can almost always be more powerful than the stories that they accompany. Although a story is necessary to explain what is happening, the image can build on this and evoke thought. These bizarre and sometimes controversial or gut wrenching images establish a sense of place for the members.

In this week’s lecture, Dr Van Luyn (2013) describes that a sense of place can be established in a space by people enforcing meaning within. The same can be said for creating place on the virtual network mentioned above. It is not only language that can create place, but pictures as well and in this case, very effectively. If you take this example shown in the picture of the peaceful protest in late 20^th Century Europe against Soviet occupation, the picture adds something that words cannot, it builds on the written language.

Each member on this page shares a desire to learn about the odd and bizarre occurrences in our world throughout the course of history. This desire is fed through the layout of the page. Through effectively depicting historical events which captivate and awaken an interest on this network, the shared experience can, not only through the stories but perhaps even more so through the pictures, create a sense of place and meaning for this virtual community.

Reference List:

Tuan, Y. (1991). Language and the making of place: a narrative-descriptive approach. Annals of the association of American geographers, 81(4), 684-696. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au

Van Luyn, A. (2013). BA1002: Our space: network, narrative and the making of place, week 5 notes. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au

Image Credits:

Stories That Shocked The World. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/STSTW