The Role of Visual Literacy in Modern Public Relations
The Role Of Visual Literacy In Modern Public Relations
The first time I heard the term ‘Visual Literacy’ was while watching Martin Scorcese’s two hour masterclass on Filmmaking. The term struck a chord within me because I’m a highly visual person and I understand the power it has on planned behaviour. It also resonated with some very strong opinions I had around designing things to either feel good and/or look good, for better impact.
For anyone who is a brand communicator and seeks to influence most especially, it is important to understand that just like language and its dialects, visual literacy is nuanced and you can’t just wing it. Well you can, if you truly understand the science behind the art.
According to Wikipedia, Visual Literacy is the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image, extending the meaning of literacy, which commonly signifies the interpretation of a written or printed text.
Visual literacy is based on the idea that pictures can be “read” and that meaning can be through a process of reading. If as communicators, we are able to deconstruct and understand the rules of design, only then will we have nailed the ultimate purpose of communication, which is interaction.
Traditionally, the crux of Public Relations by nature is to approach communication campaigns through text based tactics. The idea is to persuade through reason and logic.
While this route is absolutely valid, PR professionals also need to step back and read the room. Why? Because even though these tactics may have worked a decade ago, it may not necessarily have any kind of impact now since the audience is experiencing an information overload.
I mean yeah, the clients like features and op-eds, but does your audience? Are we all just shouting into a blackhole? In the race for the mind, are we Usain Bolt or the other suckers that couldn’t catch up?
You have to understand that this is not about demographics, it’s about psychographics. It’s about beliefs, sensations, perceptions, memory and validation.
The medium is now the message — and the impact of the message heavily depends on how it has been encoded in the human brain using shapes, texts, textures, patterns and colors.
It should be known however that the role of visual literacy alone is not the ultimate cure-all. Communication is multi-sensory and I expounded on that larger picture in my piece that’s featured in this year’s Nigeria PR Report. Please get your copy as it features the perspectives of other thinkers in the communication space.
Narcissism: Why We All Have A Personality Disorder
Narcissism: Why We All Have A Personality Disorder
In 1996, when Gov. George Deukmejian approved “The State Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem, Personal and Social Responsibility”, every other state in America thought California was having a laugh. Even a specialist of political behaviour at San Jose State University was quoted as saying “I can’t imagine Idaho having a task force on self-esteem”, they all said “It sounds so Californian”.
Guess what though? After the task force, headed by statesman John Vasconcellos presented the result of it’s study 3 years later that “People with a strong self-image are more likely to live productive lives”, everyone suddenly caught the self-esteem bug.
Prominent figures like Oprah declared that ‘self-esteem’ would be the buzz word for the 90s, the get-in-shape wave hit and everyone wanted to look good, the importance of self-confidence was pressed in schools and child rearing activities, one teacher was quoted as saying “They began to tell me, it doesn’t matter if a child could spell, as long as she feels good about herself.”
People were being encouraged to feel great no matter their imperfections and also treat other people with ‘unconditional positive regard’, which means everyone was brimming with self-love and also sharing this emotion with friends, families and especially strangers.
Now I’m not surprised that the hub of social media, Silicon Valley, is cooped up somewhere in the state of California, but it is actually a huge coincidence that the hub of ‘happiness’ in the 90s, birthed the hub of virtual social interactions in the 2000s. But, that’s an aside.
Growing up, we all battled insecurities, heartbreaks, and major Ls. All these things contributed to our shaky self-esteem, and then all of a sudden, social media is all the rage, and there are filters, photo editors and what not, all promising to make us look better, even sound better.
There is a whole community of other people validating our opinions and ‘gassing’ our pictures/videos up.
It’s very normal to go crazy with it, because as human beings we are generally drawn to things that makes us feel good about ourselves.
However, while engaging in virtual social activities and getting positively validated by our friends and families, we can easily get lost in the sauce, we can become so gassed by these ‘appraisals’, so much that it can create some sort of grandiose feeling.
You may not have up to N5,000 ($10) in your account but at least your Instagram picture has 1065 likes and 33 comments, right?
Everywhere you go, you want to show off your outfit or the ambience on Snapchat, you want people to see who you are hanging out with because that means you have clout, right? You feel on top of the world when your tweet gets bare 200 RTs, because that means you are funny/intelligent, right?
You are bent on feeding your ego with likes, retweets and views.
The defining feature of Narcissism is “Excessive interest in, or admiration of oneself and a craving for attention”.
Sounds familiar?
Sex Workers Are The Unsung Heroes In Nigeria
Sex Workers Are The Unsung Heroes In Nigeria
Okay so before we get into the nitty-gritty of the matter, I’d like to appeal to anyone that this will put off. The reason for this post is not to agitate, but to entertain, and subtly advocate.
Literature on Wikipedia estimates that there are about 40 – 42 million sex workers in the world, 80% of those are female, and they perform different services from stripping or lap dancing, to pornography, phone or internet sex, and basically any other exchange of sexual related services for financial or material gain.
The rise of OnlyFans has given a new coating to the world’s perception of sex work. If Cardi, Blac Chyna, and Safaree are making bank on the platform, then the thinking around sex work is that it is not so bad, maybe even a cool and alternative way to make money.
But wait, does this new perception of sex work apply to the ladies that work out of brothels, and stand on the streets? Are they accorded the same regard by society? Something needs to be said about that.
The first thing you should know is that Oxford Dictionary defined a job as ‘A paid position of regular employment’, which means that just like workers in the corporate world, the same factors that determine success/promotions are applicable in the business of sex work. Depending on branding, work ethics, and positioning, the client database for a typical sex worker could either be the heads of organizations or could be their drivers – either way, revenue is being generated.
The second thing you should know is, sex workers are actual ninjas when it comes to their chosen occupation. You think you are good at your job? LOL, you should see the way sex workers hustle. They will pull an all-nighter, every night, with a full face of makeup, on their feet, in heels, whilst still meeting their KPIs (of say 10 guys per night), and the bag secured.
The third thing you should know is, sex workers are emotionally intelligent and very street smart. Yes, it’s nice to know advanced algebra and be able to write a ten-page essay, but is that knowledge going to help you sharpen your negotiating skills? Is that knowledge going to help you properly maneuver in the boardroom, where human relations (no pun intended) is a key skill to be successful?.
The fourth thing you should know is, sex workers are probably ‘badder’ than James Bond, in terms of how brave they are. Every day, sex workers break the first and most important rule that was impressed upon us as children – “Don’t talk to, or follow strangers”. Do you know how scary it is to get into a car with a complete stranger not knowing where the car is headed, or what would possibly happen when you get there? Sex workers do it with a smile on their faces.
The final thing you should know is, sex workers are joyful givers, and I mean that literally. Yes, you have to pay a fee, but don’t you pay for Netflix and Apple Music? Also, guess what? They do a lot of CSR. There are so many men roaming the streets with needs and wants, without enough clout or swag to get it for free, and these brave set of women and men have chosen to take up the responsibility of meeting these needs, yet the society has chosen to ridicule them for it? SHAME!