Visual & Verbal Cliches
EXERCISE (i) • Draw symbols/pictograms to represent the following words. • You will have 10 seconds per word.
A Cross
Brush
Drop of liquid
Lightning
Time
Tree
Book
Umbrella
Sheep
Bee
Egg
Keyhole
Halo
Acorn
Apple
Results? • What did you draw? • How many of you drew the same symbol?
EXERCISE (ii) • Now discuss and write down what what each pictogram symbolises.
A CROSS • The Red Cross - a voluntary first aid group. • Green Cross - medical aid, a chemist, a hospital, paramedic, • A Band Aid. • Religious - sign of Christ. • Treasure - x marks the spot. • Target/Aim • Repel the devil
BRUSH • Art class • Cleaning teeth • grooming • Brush tool • Gallery
DROP OF LIQUID • Rain - precipitation • Water • Drink • Weather • Condensation
LIGHTNING • Warning! Electric shock • Electrical socket/point • Weather • Power • Struck by the Gods
Time • Time • Deadline • Waiting time • Alarm clock, morning • Time flies • Time after time
TREE One of the most extensively used images. • Life • Knowledge • Wisdom (a great oak tree) • Environmentally friendly • Family tree/roots
BOOK • Library • Knowledge • Organised - filofax/diary • Literature • Learning • Hobby/Reading
UMBRELLA • Weather - rain • Cover - safe, dry, protection • Sun shade • Cocktail drink • Golf
SHEEP • Easily led - baa! • Countryside • Real wool • Soft, comfort, pure.
BEE • The Blackburn coat of arms contains three bees. They symbolise the industrious nature of the town. • Busy bees - industrious • Birds and the Bees - reproduction.
EGG • Evolution • Morning (hens laying) • Farm house, countryside, organic • Bad smells • Fragile • Easter time • Chocolate
KEYHOLE • Easily recognisable silhouette • Keyhole surgery • Secretive • Security • Spying, peep through
HALO • A symbol of the sun in pre Christian religions. Now most commonly associated with Christian Saints. • Saintliness, angelic. • Mocks innocence • Tilted halo, bit of a devil, naughty
ACORN • An unofficial symbol of the English countryside. • Financial firms often use it to symbolise growth - from its habit of growing into an oak tree.
APPLE • Often used because it has many characteristic attributes such as being bitten into, peeled. • Association with original sin (temptation). • Also used flippantly with sexual connotations (forbidden fruit). • A is for … elementary education. • Apple Mac • Health - an apple a day keeps the Doctor away.
EXERCISE (iii) Collect examples of logo that demonstrate the use of visual and verbal cliches.