1. Explain why Voices in The Park is an example of a postmodern picture book.
Voices in The Park contains several characteristics of a postmodern picturebook. The main evidence being that several narratives exist from interconnected characters, but viewpoints are shifted to show each character's individual story and opinion. We see the worried, helicopter mother, her sheltered son, their dog, a struggling-to-make-ends-meet father, his energetic daughter, and her scruffy dog. Serafini mentions "Polyphonic, which is multi-voiced narratives," (Serafini, p. 82) which also is evidence this story is a postmodern picturebook. The picturebook also has "disruptions of traditional time and space relationships in the narrative" (Serafini p. 82) which also associates it with the postmodern picturebook style and setting.
2. Give examples of how at least three of the picturebook codes listed on pg 78 are used in Voices In The Park.
Codes of Position and Size Example 1
In the image below, the figures are placed front and center to show dominance. The angle we get of the see-saw helps the viewer reflect on the child-like innocence the kids are having and the freedom one feels when at the top peak of the see-saw. We can all relate to that feeling of exhilaration and fear when you are jolted back down with a snap from the other buddy on the see-saw. In this image, the girl appears more fearless and free because she is the dominant one in the most exciting spot in the scene. Plus, we can see her face, so it adds to our relationship to her. The boy is more quiet and mysterious because we can't see his face.
Codes of the Frame Example 2
This image is a great example of "Codes of the Frame" (Serafini, p. 78) because it is cropped for a reason. The close cropping of the picture helps us focus on the mother and her dog as the important figures. The fact that the "scruffy" dog on the right has just his nose peaking through helps strengthen her comment about him being a "mongrel" and in her eyes, insignificant and a pest. I think the hint of the boys shoe tips on the left, helps strengthen the idea of his mother's overpowering influence which shifts him to the sidelines in a very visual way here. The dog looks very calm and obedient, almost show-worthy with his full body in the frame, and that to me just shows how desperate this dog was to get free of the mothers critical clutches. This demeanor is shared by the son, who becomes increasingly wild when he escapes her notice for a few minutes, so this is another correlation that can be made between characters as well.
Codes of Color Example 3
In this picture, the viewer's mood should be shifted to that of fun, playful and energetic. We see the bright colors of the covered platform, and the children and dogs happily rolling around. This dynamic color helps our eye move about the image excitedly and assists in the innocence of the children and animals at play. My eye is drawn first to the girl's striped top, then is guided around the shapes, lines and squiggles the figures create, and ending at the moon which casts a calming element, as the play is about to be ended. An almost "it was fun while it lasted" theme. This is a very playful and charming image that is primarily read by the dynamic color and movement.
3. Identify and explain the type of "interplay" between the written word and visual images on one of the pages in Voices In The Park.
This image has an "Enhancing" (Serafini, p. 79) interplay between the written word which was "its owner was really angry." This angle of the mother enhances her rage by the placement and size of her in the space as well as the expression on her face. Furthermore, her hat is being blown off because she is so angry. All of the elements in this image enhance the words on the page and were very deliberate.
4. Identify the art movement or technique that is being used in Voices In The Park.
The bright colors used in much of the picturebook remind me more of the Fauvist art movement. Post modernism typically depicts artists that wanted to contradict modernism, so I am not sure that this is an appropriate correlation for the illustrations here. I would say the cartoons in motion in this picturebook favor qualities from different artist movements, and not one exclusively. The rounded shapes of the trees and simplified sketch qualities of the figures gives hints of post-impressionism motivations. It is hard to pinpoint an art movement, so I will stick with a mishmash of Fauvism and post-impressionism. Some have associated the figures to surrealism, but as an artist I am not seeing that dominant here. I think the ape-like characters could just be a fun twist in the story to add elements of uniqueness compared to every other children's book out there that shows humans or cutesy animals in the storybooks.
5. Conduct an Ideological Analysis and Structural Analysis of Voices In The Park. What is the message? Provide evidence from the images to support your opinion. Use the examples on pg 86, 87,89. I do not expect your analysis to be as indepth but I would like for you to make two or three insightful observations about the perspectives and social context conveyed through the books words and images.
Ideological Analysis: The characters and their plight are relatable and we, as the viewer experience sympathy toward the weak, sheltered son and the unemployed, struggling father. We naturally have some dislike towards the helicopter mother and her twitterings. The daughter is lively and caring, so she is the hero of the story in my opinion because she allows the boy a few minutes of pleasure and at the end soothes us by tenderly boiling her father a cup of tea. All of these characters draw feelings from us and allow us to be sucked into their individual, unique stories. The economic levels of the families are present as well and are the pulling focus of the underlying story as well.
Structural Analysis: The sequence of characters is made up of woman, man, boy, girl. I think the development of them shows intensity of characters from the start, tapering off to the daughter who ties it off well with her energetic and loving spirit. Their plights are relatable and we are drawn into the story very easily.
I think the message of the book demonstrates how very different people related in the same story have their own unique voices, struggles and attitudes. It also brings together the ideas of how we, as people of society are interwoven and how much snowball effects can happen from a smile, an angry glare or a shout across the park. People always need to be aware of their "perceived" attitude or demeanor. You never know how your actions can impact others.
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References
Browne, A. (1998). Voices in the park. New York: DK Pub..
Corbett, S. (2012, August 23). English Language & Literacy. : Sally's Children's Book 5/8. Retrieved June 26, 2014, from http://the-books-we-read.blogspot.com/2012/08/sallys-childrens-book-58.html
(Mother w/ dog image)
Fisher, C. (2014, March 3). Lifetime Literacy. : Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne (Author and Illustrator). Retrieved June 26, 2014, from http://lifetimeliteracy.blogspot.com/2014/03/voices-in-park-by-anthony-browne-author.html (See-Saw image)
Guest Book Review: Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne. (2012, November 23). Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Retrieved June 26, 2014, from http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/guest-book-review-voices-in-the-park-by-anthony-browne/ (Picture of Cover)
Serafini, F. (2014). Introduction. Reading the visual: an introduction to teaching multimodal literacy (p. 78, p. 79, p. 82). New York: Teachers College Press.
We both commented in regards to the economic statuses in the ideological analysis. I also liked your idea of how the struggling girl is the hero. This story can teach children that money does not buy happiness. You also draw attention to how the reader feels bad for the little boy. This is so true because individuals see him as having the better life; but that is not quite true. In the structural analysis, I liked how you stated the author presented the characters based on intensity with the mother being the most intense and Smudge being the most fun and light-hearted. I really enjoyed reading your analyses.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your thought process of the message of the book and how the different perspectives can change the story. A great message to teach children about how other people can intemperate differently the same message.
ReplyDeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your ideological and structural analysis of the postmodern picture book Voices in the Park I found it interesting how you believe the book could be interpreted differently whether chosen as a leisure read or a classroom assignment read by the teacher. In effect, this book could be interpreted differently if read by only a young child or if read by an adult. The perspectives would be very different and the interpretation may not be the same. Great point!! I know if I read as a child I wouldn’t see all the differing color schemes and social status issues, I would look more at the child’s perspectives of the park and obtaining a friend to play.
Structurally, this book presents interesting concepts when investigated closely. I didn’t recognize the directness of the young boy Charles when sitting on the park bench with his mother versus the mother’s avoidance of eye contact and shading of the images when her perspective is given. This point you make made me go back through the book and pay more attention to the direct or indirect eye contact given to the reader. Thanks for the insight!!