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There are also links to handouts dealing with the close reading of written texts and fine arts provided by the Undergraduate Writing Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Using the checklists: an example
The reading checklists can be provided as handouts to students for homework or classroom activities. For an example of how this can work, let's look at the iconic image of the U.S. Marines raising the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima in 1945.
Here's a link to the image:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:WW2_Iwo_Jima_flag_raising.jpg
Instead of launching into a theory-heavy discussion of the ideology implicit in this photo, begin by breaking down its composition by brainstorming with the class.
Ask the class: "what do you see?" The eye moves from the flag down to the men struggling together to raise the poll. Finally, we take in the war-ravaged landscape.
Then, you ask: "what is it about?" It is certainly about values that are connected to country. The flag is placed above the faceless men who toil to raise the flag on foreign soil. Thus, it is about cooperation, perseverance and patriotism. There are no reminders of the gore of war—just the triumph.
You could then ask: "to what does it relate?" The image is linked to World War II, and the struggles of the nation during that time.
Then ask: "how is it composed?" An interesting fact about this image is that it was, in fact, composed. That is, while it looks spontaneous, the photographer asked the Marines to raise the flag again the day after they raised the first one.
Finally, conclude with: "What details matter?" A few details that are certainly important:
-the wind-whipped flag
-the faceless men struggling to raise the flag
-the motion of the flag pole upwards, so that it seems to propel itself
-the debris-strewn landscape below
This kind of activity can be repeated with any number of images.
Chapter 1
This reading checklist should be used in the analysis and interpretation of visuals—not for students' own visual creations:
1. What do you see?
2. What is it about?
3. To what does it relate?
4. How is it composed?
5. What details matter?
Chapter 2
This checklist should be used as students begin to create their own visual arguments. It can be used at the brainstorming stage and again at the revision stage:
1. What's it to you?
2. What do you want to say about it?
3. Who will listen?
4. What do you need to know?
5. How much information will your audience have to know?
6. How will you do it?
7. How well does it work?
8. How do you plan to revise it?
9. To what other images does it relate?
Chapter 3
This checklist, like the one in Chapter One, should be used in conjunction with assignments that involve analysis and interpretation, especially with portraits.
1. What do you see?
2. What is the portrait about?
3. To what does it relate?
4. How is it composed?
5. What details matter?
6. What kind of reaction is the creator trying to achieve?
Chapter 4
This checklist will function best in the analysis and interpretation of landscapes.
1. What do you see?
2. What is it about?
3. To what does it relate?
4. How is it composed?
5. What details matter?
6. How realistic does it seem?
7. What emotions are associated with this landscape?
8. How does the landscape interact with humans and other animals?
Chapter 5
This checklist functions best in the analysis and interpretation of visual and written narratives.
1. What is being told?
2. What is it about?
3. To what does it relate?
4. How is it composed?
5. What details matter?
6. What is moral of the story (if there is one)?
7. How are the important details revealed?
8. What elements of the story are left out?
9. Where does it begin?
10. Where does it end?
Chapter 6
This checklist should be used for images that try to explain a phenomenon (a graph, map, chart, etc).
1. What do you see?
2. What is it about?
3. To what does it relate?
4. How is it composed?
5. What details matter?
6. Is it clear?
7. What elements distract your attention?
8. What argument is the image making?
Chapter 7
This checklist should be used in conjunction with design:
1. What do you see?
2. What is it about?
3. To what does it relate?
4. How is it composed?
5. What details matter?
6. To whom does the design appeal?
Chapter 8
This checklist should be used in conjunction with images that attempt to advocate or persuade:
1. What do you see?
2. What is it about?
3. To what does it relate?
4. How is it composed?
5. What details matter?
6. What is it arguing?
7. Does it persuade you?
8. What are the arguments against it?
Handouts from the Undergraduate Writing Center at the University of Texas at Austin
http://uwc.fac.utexas.edu/media/Handouts/Art%20and%20Art%20History.pdf
Tips for writing about art and other visuals.
http://uwc.fac.utexas.edu/media/Handouts/Close%20Reading%20Literature.pdf
How to close read literature in "Six Easy Steps."
http://uwc.fac.utexas.edu/media/Handouts/Poetry%20Analysis.pdf
How to analyze poetry.
http://uwc.fac.utexas.edu/media/Handouts/Rhetorical%20Terminology.pdf
Rhetorical terminology made simple.
http://uwc.fac.utexas.edu/media/Handouts/Rhetorical%20Fallacies.pdf
Definitions of rhetorical fallacies.
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