Picture This: How Pictures Work

Bang uses “Little Red Riding Hood” to illustrate the principles of picture composition throughout the book. Choose another fairy tale and repeat this exercise; how do shape, color, and placement affect this story?

Throughout the book, Bang compares picture books to diptychs. Research diptychs and analyze the implications of this comparison. What does it mean to compare a children’s book to a religious work of art? How does this reflect Bang’s themes?

Analyze the concept of the “picture-world” as an extension of real life and its implications for the creation and interpretation of visual art. Bang’s discussion often touches on the frame; how does the “picture-world” function in frameless art, such as sculpture?

Discuss the role of contrast and regularity in creating visual interest and emotional engagement. How do these principles apply in literature? For example, how does chaos work in absurdist or modernist literature?

How does Bang’s emphasis on the emotional power of visual elements challenge or complement traditional approaches to art criticism and appreciation?

Examine the interplay of space and time within the picture-world and its impact on the viewer’s sense of narrative and emotional progression. Do the principles as Bang describes them only apply to static images? How does visual representation change in film?

Discuss the significance of the center, edges, and corners of the picture frame in shaping the viewer’s attention and emotional response, as described by Bang. Is there a difference between the frame of a book page, a picture frame, or a film still?

How does Bang’s theory of picture composition relate to or differ from other theories of visual perception and aesthetics?