"Understanding Film," the opening section of this book, discusses perceptions of and responses to film and the way in which experiences with and knowledge of other media affect film viewing. The second section, "Film Elements," analyzes the basic elements of film: the use of space and time, the impact of editing, sound and color, and the effects…

This study explored the relationship between visual aptitude and achievement in mathematics and reading. Eleventh-grade students were given the Successive Perception I Test, a measure of visual aptitude, and two achievement measures, the Sequential Test of Educational Progress, and the California Achievement Test. Achievement test data were…

An experiment was conducted in which the relationships of basic television and film codes to particular literacy mental skills were examined. Different versions of the same film, each focusing on a different code, were produced and shown to fifth graders. It was found that children with initially better mastery of the relevant skills extract more…

This 38-item annotated bibliography lists publications of organizations and periodicals alphabetically by author. Topics include instructor and student manuals for studying visual language, visual literacy and remedial and developmental reading, films, audiovisual instruction, various aspects of visual literacy in the classroom, photography and…

Given that public television must often resort to "talking faces" to fill time (because discussion programs are so cheap to produce), consideration needs to be given to how to do this in audience-attracting ways. One particularly useful method is to pattern the discussion on the enduring human ritual of the sacrifice: with the audience as…

This study was conducted in an attempt to analyze the nature of a visual literacy, or a group of vision competencies a human being may develop by seeing and at the same time integrating other sensory experiences. The study also examined the relationship between visual experiences and the verbal behaviors associated with visual experiences. The…

A test instrument was developed for analyzing the ability of various kinds of viewers to predict what will happen next in various kinds of films. The test instrument was based on the standard verbal cloze procedure, but it was adapted for nonverbal material. The test was validated by showing that it could detect differences in (1) entropy patterns…

Based on the assumption that critical viewing can broaden the range of films one can respond to, increase understanding, and ultimately lead to an intensification of subjective response, this book offers a critical approach to experiencing movies. After explaining the critical method to be used, several films in the context of different aesthetic…

The articles collected in this issue are devoted to the topic of film in the English and language arts classroom. Titles include "Film Study: Some Problems and Approaches" (Judd Chesler), "The New Basic Skill: Film" (Harold M. Foster), "Caveat Viewer: Developing Viewing Perceptions" (Edward S. Dermon), "Shreds and Patches: Improvised Textbook"…

This investigation, based on the phenomenological philosophy of Alfred Schutz, was an attempt to determine how people view films by determining the meaning that the action has for them. Twenty college freshmen and sophomores and two seniors viewed the film "Tilt," a production of the National Film Board of Canada. All subjects were asked…

The art of filmmaking is an excellent means of covertly teaching reading and other communication skills.

Color television and background music accompanying shows provide a child with basic knowledge of emotional response to art forms and symbols. In order to increase their aesthetic literacy, however, they should be exposed to more subtle artistic experiences. (JD)

Suggests ways to improve students' visual literacy through the study of paintings and photographs. (DD)

Outlines the philosophical dimensions of aesthetics, devoting particular attention to the development of a rationale for aesthetics in the public schools. (JDH)

Two studies investigated: (1) the art preference of young children for realistic, stylized, and abstract styles; and (2) the influence that exposure to art has on these style preferences. Analyses revealed that exposure increased preference for the selected painting as well as preference for other paintings in that style. (PCB)