Pictorial Representation and Comprehension

As mentioned in the previous entry, It is important to research on the use of medium in bringing forth the content of the medicinal label. A proper use of medium make a whole lot of different in presenting the visual. 

Humans developed pictorial representation as early as the Stone Age, where rock paintings were found in the cave that human lived in. A lot of research has shown that, the representations of human in cave paintings was rare, mostly animals were painted. Not only animals that were used as food but also animals that represented strength like the rhinoceros or large cats. A rock painting in India - a world heritage site was one of the typical examples for a pictorial representation. Bhimbetka reflects an interaction between people and the landscape. It is closely associated with a hunting and gathering economy, as demonstrated in the rock art and in the relics of this tradition in the Adivasi villages on the periphery of the site. Instinctively, human expresses knowledge or information through imaging when language was still in the developmental stage. Therefore, the practical reason for introducing new medicinal labels in using pictorial representation has an extensive history.

World Heritage Convention

We live in visually stimulated cultures where interpretation is made up by different perception. Individuals or shared experiences and the entire process are heavily influenced by visual, audio and senses. Through observation expressed explicitly in the environment, human perception was formed. For instance, as a teenager living in Singapore, the locals may find it fascinating to possess chewing gum where the government imposed a very strict law in prohibiting its consumption. They may not only see chewing gum as a product but behind the image that was cast from the stringent law, the people see destructive behaviors, concept of discipline and authoritative.

There are many pictorial materials that had been used to represent concepts and ideas, for example: photographs, paintings, movies, statues, scriptures and so on. Since early days, pictogram was one of the common mediums for pictorial representations. A pictogram is a type of illustration that falls into the category of signs, which it is also a main element in the semiotic. Pictogram is described as being part of a picture language, in other words a language consisting of pictorial symbols. Both the content of the illustration and its graphical representation are kept very simple so to bring across a clear message. Pictogram is potentially advantage such as being concise and capable of crossing the boundaries of all existing languages; it strives to be universally applicable (Edo, 2007, p.96).