VLW is intended to be a collection of articles, tutorials, reviews and ruminations on the world of visual literacy. There are lots of definitions for the term, and here we simply mean: the ways by which humans make meaning of those things that can be observed through the sense of sight. In short, visual literacy is where Image meets Story. This may be too loose a definition by academic standards, but we want to paint with broad strokes to allow for a wide range of topics to explore. In essence, the ability to identify and interpret what we see is a skill that can, and should, be developed beyond the subconscious.
Those same skills can also be translated into a sort of social currency. How often did we crowd around that kid in elementary school that could draw Garfield, mouths agape at the brilliance of the ability demonstrated. Or, as adults, how often do we apologize for "not being an artist"? There is a notion of celebrity that we falsely believe is limited only to those people that are 'gifted'. We have created a pedestal of mythic proportions and placed them upon it, separating ourselves from the reality that we all have access to this same creative heritage. Granted there is a difference between a skill and a talent, but the point here is to establish that the skill can be learned - by anyone. Our individual talents are what distinguish our expression of that skill from that of others - a visual DNA of sorts.
Being able to create visual signs and symbols, images whose meaning can be understood by others, is also empowering. Especially when the storyteller is underprivileged, marginalized, or otherwise an illiterate (either by force or inherited) non-participant (by majority exclusion) in their larger context. We'll talk more about this later - using visual storytelling as an agent for social justice.
Ultimately, the goal of the VLW is to help people reclaim and restore their creativity through the powerful combination of their unique stories and images.
