How Does Rudolf Arnhiem Use Signs?

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Writing has developed in respect to the advancement of technology and has created different methods for people to express their thoughts. Without the use of images, writing would lack deeper meaning and invocation of thought. Upon review of Virtual Thinking, by Rudolf Arnhiem, the author makes very interesting points regarding the use of signs. Arnhiem states that “an image serves merely as a sign to the extent to which it stands for a particular content without reflecting its characteristics visually” (136). A sign can give more information on a topic, and students in particular must use this to their advantage. Images signify a person’s values and allow him/her to mold their writing to an audience’s standards. I argue, since most writing …show more content…

David Bartholomae expands upon this concept by addressing academic writing as a “language” each student must develop for each of their assigned professors (403). According to Bartholomae, students know that their writing will be “looked” at and “evaluated” by “university faculty” (404). A professor has vast a knowledge of his/her field of study; and a student must use their current knowledge as well as what they have been taught to write in the appropriate vernacular. A student must use signs to be able to interpret information, such as, preferred writing and citation styles. For example, an English professor values MLA citation formatting, attention to grammar, correct spelling, organization of ideas, and critical analysis of the subject to “evaluate” a student’s writing …show more content…

Signs possess “visual characteristics” which make it slightly different from text and in some cases make it more effective (Arnheim 136). Arnheim uses traffic signs, as an example, to bring attention to the use of shapes in portraying a certain response in people (136). The use of a characteristic such as shape give a certain connotation to a traffic sign. The “visual characteristics” a traffic sign possess are different depending on what it is planned to warn against, and the same can be said for images when deciphering its

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