Editing Visual communication (section)

== Visual literacy ==
Studies often define [[visual literacy]] (or visual competence) as the ability to understand and process what is being seen in order to make sense of the world. Being visually literate has been shown to be an important aspect of life to those with sight. The function of sight itself has mechanisms that must work together in order to transform the lines, shapes, and colors around a person's environment into a cohesive picture that can then hold meaning.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hoffman |first=Donald |title=Visual Intelligence: How We Create What We See |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |date=Feb 22, 2000 |isbn=978-0393319675 |edition=1st}}</ref> These mechanisms are what occur in the human body that allow a person's eye to make sense of what the viewer sees and then the signals that are sent to relay information to their brain to be processed. However, studies conducted state that visual intelligence is not something that is taught but rather observed. It is also noted within this study that this skill often goes unnoticed until it is impaired. This act of processing what is being seen has been shown to happen quickly and oftentimes without the viewer's cognizant awareness.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Barry |first=Ann Marie Seward |title=Visual intelligence: perception, image, and manipulation in visual communication |date=1997 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=978-0-7914-3436-9 |location=Albany}}</ref>

The effect visual literacy has on a viewer has also been shown to influence aspects of their life such as, attitudes, values, beliefs, as well as cultural views.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Messaris |first=Paul |title=Visual "literacy": image, mind, and reality |date=2009 |publisher=Westview Press |isbn=978-0-8133-1937-7 |edition=Repr |location=Boulder}}</ref> Scholars have noted how society and culture is often dominated by imagery, especially with the rise of mass technological media. The dominance of visuals in culture such as film, television and social media, have now been used by various companies for their advertisements.<ref>{{Citation |title=Introduction: Sol Worth and the Study of Visual Communication |date=1981-12-31 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.9783/9781512809282-002 |work=Studying Visual Communication |pages=1–35 |access-date=2023-12-08 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |doi=10.9783/9781512809282-002 |isbn=978-1-5128-0928-2|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Presidential and political candidates have also turned to the media to visually promote their campaigns. With many of these advertisements present in everyday life, the viewers of this content may often be open to influence without being cognizant of it.<ref name=":1" />