☞Readings/Lecture Summary

  The first reading assignment and lecture focused on composition, the elements  of design, The Gestalt Theory, and form/content.

• Composition-Overall 
• mineral,music,visual,writing,dance,writing,music,nature,theatre
• Elements of design
• "The elements are related to each other and can not easily be separated in our general visual experience."
• Conceptual,Visual,Relational,Practical
• Conceptual Elements-point→line→shape/form
• Form-"The means by which one gives substance to an idea."
• point-Indicates where something is
• line-"As a point moves, its path becomes a line. A line has no length but no breadth...It is bound by points"
• Plane
• Volume
• Visual Elements- is shown when one draws
• Shape-"Anything that can be seen has a shape which provides identification in our perception."
• Color-"A shape is distinguished from its surroundings because of color..." It is comprised of hues of the spectrum and neutrals, also their tonal and chromatic variations.
• Texture- the surface characteristics of a shape
• Size
• In class we got in groups and demonstrated the visual elements of design. We used ourselves and sound. I really enjoyed this exercise☺. We related color to mood, texture to details, space to the setting, and value to  theme in a story.
• Relational Elements-"... governs the placement and interrelationship of the shapes in a design
• Direction-"Direction of a shape depends on how it is related to the observer, to the frame that it contains, or to other shapes nearby."
• Position-"The position of a shape is judged by its relationship to the  frame  or structure of the design."
• Space-"Shapes of any size, however small, occupy space. Thus, space can by occupied or left blank."
• Gravity
• Practical Elements- "... Underline the content and extension of a design."
• Representation
• Meaning
• Function
• Theory of Human Perception
• Perception and Gestalt Theory
• "Gestalt's basic premise is that organization is central to all mental activity and is a reflection of how the brain functions."
• "A form that exhibits high organization has good gestalt.
• The 4 Aspects of Gestalt·•●●•·
• Closure
• Continuance 
• Proximity
• Similarity
• My favorite of the 4 is Continuance
• Form-The sum total of physical characteristics 
• Form vs. Meaning
• Think about  as separate things
• "All the visual elements constitute what we generally call form, which is the primary concern in our present enquiry into the visual language."

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