The first issue of The New Yorker was published February, 1925. Since then, the publications have been become world renowned for its team of writers and artists, filling their pages with reports on political and cultural commentary, humour, poetry and fiction.
The New Yorker, though considered 'light-hearted' presents its readers with trending issues, in an attempt to bring a new light of opinion and interpretation. However without getting in depth within the publication, readers are generally presented with a cover page that is designed to create interpretation conversation.
Its in the issue published November 26th 2018, where Roz Chast's illustration is displayed on the front cover. The traditional American readers are celebrating the annual holiday thanksgiving during the time of the publication which inherently influences the use of the illustration on this particular publication. Roz Chast however has created an illustration used to challenge a readers interpretation of a traditional thanksgiving. Its here where readers can decipher their own interpretation whilst still seeing the denotations and connotations of the image.
Denotation, refers to what is blatantly displayed in an image, its an overview of the objects and physical world without 'reading' into the image. In this particular illustration, Chast's tableau shows a dining table, with a spread of traditional thanksgiving foods, it has a woman at the head of the table placing down what looks to be roast turkey, and she is surrounded by technological objects that are personified with facial features at each chair (which none of them match and my detail-orientated eyes are not liking it).
However this illustration was not meant to be observed in such a way. In my opinion and interpretation I believe Chast's illustration presents readers with a well known thanksgiving scene which uses technology to replace family and friends that traditionally surround the table. This connotation showcases the technology that permeates our home's in this current day and age. The woman at the head of the table can represent a generation that focuses on the traditional cultures that have seemingly been lost by the younger generations that are instead portrayed technology items.
Its images and illustrations like Chast's, that present current issues and trending conversation, to create new interpretations and opinions all around the world.
Viewers will create their own opinion only using their own knowledge to delve deeper into what the leading denotations can otherwise mean.
What do you interpret from Roz Chast's illustration? If you had a different affiliation with technology could you come a different or similar conclusion? Let me know if we share the same lenses on the hidden message?
Until Next time,
Reference List:
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2018-11-26 - Accessed on 17.03.2019
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/03/new-york-city-covers-from-the-archive - Accessed on 17.03.2019
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Yorker - Accessed on 18.03.2019
Comments