When Seeing Isn’t Believing

Textual literacy skills in the North American public have been on the rise since the dawn of the 20^th century. More people than ever before are able to understand, and critically interpret written statements; however, fewer people are taught visual literacy skills. It is easy to believe the things that we see. The human mind is more likely to believe statements or memories that are accompanied by images, even if the images are unrelated to that which is being presented [1]. Our brains are hardwired to trust that which we can see, and photos achieve this, although often without context. With the popularization of data visualization techniques, “live” social media updates, accessible cameras and editing equipment, and deceptive advertising, it is more difficult than ever to discern whether or not an image is telling the truth. Here are the three most common forms of images we view, and some questions you can ask to engage critically with the information they present.

Data Visualizations

Image used under CC BY 2.0 from Flickr user nerissa’s ring

Data visualizations (including info graphics, charts, and graphs) have been used by the scientific community to disseminate information for centuries and, over the past few decades, the practice has been adopted by the popular media. In his book The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward Tufte unravels the mystery associated with visualization creations, and outlines the common pitfalls that can deceive viewers: Misleading Axes, and Proportional Ink. As summarized by Bergstrom and West in their online course: Calling Bullshit, data visualizations are meant to tell a story, and these stories can be compromised by poorly created visualizations, incorrect research methodologies, or chartjunk [2]. When observing a visualization, ask yourself the following questions; then test your graph literacy with the BBC, and explore common examples of poorly made graphs with PBS.

• Does this image include all of the relevant data? If not, what is it excluding? Many graphics that demonstrate financial impact over time do not account for inflation.
• Does this image feature more information than is necessary to answer the question it is posing? Sometimes the inclusion of unnecessary information can overwhelm the reader, or be used to obscure findings.
• Does this graphic present information in a way that is intuitively linked to my reading habits? Data can be presented in obscure arrangements to mislead readers. This can take the form of graphics which move backwards in time from left to right, or presents ascending numbers from top to bottom of the page.
• Can I find corroborative sources that speak to the validity and reliability of the information presented in this graphic? Checking for corroborative sources is good practice for any fact-checking endeavor.

Photography/ Film

Image used under CC BY 2.0 from Flickr user Curtis Perry

There have been debates about the authenticity of photographs and film since the invention of the camera [3]. While photographs can seem authentic, they can be altered, staged, or presented without context to be deliberately misleading. In 2014, Beyoncé was accused of altering a photo from her Instagram account. When investigating photographs, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this photograph presented in the correct context within the work?
• Can I find other sources that speak to the validity of this photo?
• Is this photo trying to sell me, or convince me of, something? If so, what?
• Does this photo feature evidence of altering?

Social Media

Image used under CC BY 2.0 from Flickr user Jason Howle

Aspirational content, and social media brand cultivation, can lead to highly presentational media identities. While we bear witness to our entire complex lives, social media offers us a “highlights reel” of best moments from the lives of our peers. To further complicate our social media literacy, the lines between fact and fiction are easily blurred in digital spaces. Navigating these spheres to determine what is advertised or fictional content is difficult. In 2006, a YouTuber called LonelyGirl15 was outed as a fraud, and opened the door for discussion about authenticity and reliability online. Ask yourself:

• Is this post telling me the whole story? What is this content leaving out of the narrative?
• Is this a personal account, or is it an account run by a business? Beware of aspirational content creators, or social media personalities who promote, partner with, or are sponsored by businesses.
• Is this “live” content, actually happening live?
• Is this “live” content being edited, or curated in a way that promotes a certain ideology or narrative? What is that narrative saying, and how is it constructed through these images?

Scholars in all fields are studying our changing relationship with images and visualizations; however, some of the most exciting experiments are coming from the art world. Artists around the globe are exploring how we mediate images, technology, and identity. The work of RJ Andrews explores how data graphics tell stories, and our own Artist Project Series investigates how our experience with images influences, informs, and disguises surveillance practices. Ultimately, it is our job as digital citizens to recognize how images impact our lives, and to think critically before sharing the narratives they present with our social networks.

Your Take

Do you feel that images are more trustworthy than text? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments below, or join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.