Practice Exam- Refugees

What is the most salient feature in this image?

The most salient feature in this image is the refugees. This is because they are positioned in
the centre and the policeman is looking at them (gaze), the light is also shining on them.

What feature acts as the vector in this image?

The feature that acts as the vector in this image is the guard/man. This is because of his
body language and gaze. He is leading the refugees and is looking at them. The barrier is
also a vector.

What camera angle is being used in this image?

The camera angle being used in this image is a high angle.

What message is the illustrator conveying to his audience?

The message the illustrator is communicating to his audience is that refugees flee to try and
find a safe place to live, but most of the time that doesnt happen. It is also conveying that
once refugees flee to a country people do not treat them fairly. The refugees have false
hope and a false sensation. They are directed to a future that isnt real.

Identify and explain three different visual literacy techniques the composer uses to tell his
story?

Juxtaposition- The illustrator has used juxtaposition to convey that refugees flee to find a
safe place to live, but once they arrive they realise that doesnt happen. They have false
hope. As in the image the illustrator has drawn two doors, one door leads them to outside
which represents freedom and is what they want, and the other is just a drawing of the
outside which is what they are being led to.

Juxtaposition- the two doors

Vectors- The vectors in this image is the mans body language, he is leading the refugees to
the fake/drawn outside world instead of the real world. This is conveying that refugees
wish to find a safe place to live and hope to find a safe place to flee and want a better future
but most of the time that doesnt happen. It is also conveying that they are treated unfairly.
Reading path- First, you look at the refugees and see that they have fled to another country,
as you can see the boat and water. Then you look at the policeman as he is looking at them
and then following his arm to what he is leading them to. You can see that the man is
leading them to the false door, the drawn door which is the fake outside world. Then you
see the real entrance to the outside world next to it, but there is a barrier blocking them
from going there. This is conveying that the refugees hope to find a safe place to live, but
they are misled and have false hope.

SEE, THINK, WONDER

See:
I can see a boat. I can see water. I can see a group of refugees. I can see a barrier. I can see a
policeman. I can see a door that leads to outside. I can see a drawn image of the door that
leading you to outside.

Question 5

Three visual literacy techniques the composer uses to tell his story are colour, lighting and
vectors. Colour is used as a metaphor for the freedom the refugees hope for, represented
by the door on the left. Lighting is also used to convey this hope through the door on the
left as well. This is juxtaposed with the door on the right. The door on the right is two-
dimensional, colourless and there is no light shining. The landscape drawn on the door on
the right is a metaphor for false hope. In this image, the vectors all clearly point to the door
of false hope. Considering all the vectors are pointing overwhelmingly to the door of false
hope, it is clear that the destiny of these refugees is inhumane and unfair.