Choose any one of the following and write a short analysis of it.
Music Videos
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”: On YouTube. This video is packed with social commentary and symbolism, making it a rich subject for analysis.
Taylor Swift – “The Man”: Available on YouTube. It provides commentary on gender dynamics and stereotypes, offering a lot of material for discussion on visual representation.
Short Films and Animations
Pixar’s “For the Birds”: You can find it on YouTube or Disney+. It’s a short animation without dialogue, focusing on themes of bullying and belonging.
- “Paperman” by Disney: Also available on YouTube or Disney+. A black-and-white animated short that combines traditional animation and computer animation, telling a romantic story with no dialogue.Social Media Campaigns
Dove Real Beauty Sketches: Findable on YouTube. This campaign explores the gap between self-perception and what others see, using visuals to discuss concepts of beauty.
- #LikeAGirl by Always: This campaign, available on YouTube, challenges stereotypes about girls and sports, using visuals and narratives to empower and redefine the phrase “like a girl.”
TED Talks on Visual Communication
David McCandless – “The Beauty of Data Visualization”: Available on TED’s website. McCandless talks about turning complex data sets into simple, beautiful visuals that uncover patterns and connections invisible in text-based data.
- J. Abrams – “The Mystery Box”: On TED’s website. Abrams discusses his love for the unseen mystery – a passion that’s evident in his films and TV shows, highlighting the power of imagination and curiosity.
Infographics and Data Visualizations
“The Deep Sea” by Neal Agarwal: An interactive website (neal.fun/deep-sea) that visualizes the depths of the ocean and the creatures that live at different levels.
- “How to Win an Oscar” by The Pudding: An interactive data visualization (coolLinks to an external site.) that explores patterns in Oscar-winning movies and actors over the decades.
Interactive Websites and Digital Experiences
- “The Boat” by SBS: An interactive graphic novel based on a story by Nam Le about Vietnamese refugees. It’s available at sbs.com.au/theboat/.
“In Pieces” – 30 Endangered Species, 30 Pieces: An interactive exhibition of 30 of the world’s most interesting but unfortunately endangered species (species-in-pieces.comLinks to an external site.). It uses CSS polygons to create an engaging visual experience.