CNX 100 - Information Literacy Guide

The International Visual Information Literacy Association defines Visual Literacy as "a set of abilities that enables an individual to effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media." 

Every day, you encounter hundreds of images and likely do not give most of them a second thought. Part of being visually literate means taking the time to think about these images and what purpose they serve. 

Most images can be divided into two main categories, shallow and deep.

Shallow images do not have deeper meaning but serve to entertain the viewer. Examples of shallow images include basic memes, travel photography, and even selfies.

Deep images require interpretation to understand their full meaning. They are meant to inform, manipulate, or persuade the viewer. Some examples include news photography, political ads, or memes made to perpetuate a specific viewpoint. 

You might notice that memes can be shallow or deep. Determining which category they fall in requires inquiry by the viewer. This is one reason why honing your skills as a visually literate individual is important. 

 A photograph of the sun setting over the ocean is an example of a shallow image. 

Photo Credit: Ashley Tschakert Foertmeyer

 This photograph of a forest fire in Idaho is a deep image which requires more interpretation.

Photo Credit: NPS Climate Change Response

Deep images require evaluation to understand its purpose and reliability. The DIG (Digital Image Guide) Method provides a framework to help you figure out whether or not an image is reliable and accurate. 

Analyze: When you first encounter an image, your first step is to analyze the image based on your initial perception. What is happening in this image? Review any text, such as captions or a headline. What does it say? What is your initial reaction to the image? How does it make you feel?

Interpret: The next step requires doing a little background research into the image. Who created the image? If you are unsure of the original source, conduct a reverse image search. Who published the image? What is the message of the image? Who is the intended audience? What is the real-world context of the image? You may need to conduct an online search to understand the intended impact of the image based on its cultural, social, historical, or political context. 

Evaluate: The third step helps you determine reliability of the image based on information gathered in the first two steps. Think about your initial reaction to the image. How might the way it made you feel influence how you view the image? Based on the research you did during the interpret step, can you determine if the image was manipulated or modified? Is it being misrepresented from its original purpose? If it was manipulated, modified, or misrepresented, describe how. 

Comprehend: Finally, based on all of the available information you found, what judgments can you make about the image? Were the intentions of the creator represented accurately? What is the purpose of the image? Reflect on how your own bias may affect the way you view this image.