Visual storytelling is a powerful medium through which we convey narratives, emotions, and experiences. Unlike textual storytelling, where words string together a sequence of events or emotions, visual storytelling is inherently open to interpretation, with each viewer bringing in a different narrative based on personal experiences and perspectives. Using images, photographers capture moments, emotions, and stories that can resonate universally or more intimately, depending on the details, techniques, and the composition used.
In Seth Gitner’s exploration of everyday visual storytelling, the concept of a ‘moment’ emerges as a crucial element in visual storytelling. A moment is “the instant when an event is crystallized,” and its significance within a larger event. These moments become the heartbeat of narratives, imparting both emotion and empathy to those who engage with the imagery. The identification of these moments requires patience, observation, and an understanding of human interactions, body language, and the scenes themselves. Framing the narrative extends beyond the composition of an image. It involves filling the frame with intention, controlling the background to enhance the visual impact, and patiently waiting for the moment to unfold. The language of photographs, as categorized by Gitner, spans from the informational—presenting facts with clarity, to the graphically appealing—employing clever composition to engage viewers, and further to the emotional and intimate—eliciting profound emotional reactions or revealing scenes of a deeply personal nature.
Bo Bergstrom adds another layer to our understanding of visual storytelling with three distinct techniques: dramatic, non-dramatic, and interactive. Dramaturgy, the art of crafting a compelling story, draws attention to the two layers inherent in all narratives—the action level, describing what happens, and the narrative level, elucidating how it happens. This distinction between action and narrative forms the foundation of a captivating visual tale. Furthermore, considering the four principles of visual storytelling—authenticity, sensory engagement, relevancy, and archetypes—adds depth to our exploration. Authenticity invites viewers into a genuine experience, sensory engagement creates a visceral connection, relevancy makes the story personally resonant, and archetypes tap into universal identities and characters. Altogether, when it comes to visual storytelling, it’s important to show, not tell.
Season Poster Analysis
“The 100” is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama series that aired on The CW Network, delving deep into themes of morality, alliances, betrayal, identity, and the quest for survival in a drastically changed world. Spanning seven seasons, each chapter of the narrative introduces new challenges and moral dilemmas for its diverse cast of characters. In this analysis, we’ll be exploring the promotional posters for each of the show’s seasons. These posters, rich in visual detail and symbolism, serve not merely as advertisements but as narrative devices in their own right. As a whole, I would say that all seven posters employ a non-dramatic storytelling technique, inviting viewers into a world of interpretation and anticipation, where they’re encouraged to piece together the story’s complexities themselves.
The first chapter of this story is depicts a vivid image of both hope and despair. Set against a backdrop of muted gray tones that convey the somber post-apocalyptic world, figures can be seen dramatically falling from the sky, representing the uncertainty of their drop to Earth. Clarke, centrally positioned and emphasized, establishes her as a pivotal character in this new world with her glowing bracelet signifying their spacefaring origins. These bracelets also symbolize the connection between the 100 and their past, while also reminding viewers of the ever-present stakes of survival. The gravely earnest expressions of the cast accentuate the weight of their situation amidst this grand descent. While it introduces themes of survival, leadership, and technological aspects of the show, it also invites viewers to explore the dynamics of these young characters as they struggle with their new reality.
Moving onto the next chapter of the story, this season paints a narrative of resilience and impending conflict. Dominated by muted hues of gray, brown, and an earthy green, the backdrop sets a post-apocalyptic stage where nature perseveres in the face of devastation. Clarke, marked and armed, stands as a testament to battles fought and the leadership role she’s embracing. Bellamy’s shadowed presence behind her, along with Raven, Octavia, and a bow-armed Jasper, signifies the unity and collective strength of the group. But the looming distant mountain, a symbolic representation of Mount Weather, hints at the season’s central conflict and the challenges the group will face against this opponent. Their rugged appearances speak volumes of the toll their environment and battles have taken on them. From character dynamics to looming threats, viewers are invited to decipher the character’s fight for survival, leadership, and conflict in the season ahead.
The third installment offers viewers a panoramic, foggy glimpse of a post-apocalyptic world, where the remnants of a once-thriving civilization peek out as distant ruins. Dominated by muted hues, the scene captures a solitary figure, Clarke, her long red hair signaling transformation and solitude. As she stands atop a hill, a dense forest stretches out before her, leading to the dilapidated ruins, with a tower emitting a faint signal of activity. This isolated and contemplative setting, accentuated by the fog’s uncertainty, alludes to a season of exploration, self-discovery, and continuous challenge. By leaning into the non-dramatic storytelling technique, the poster entices viewers with its layered ambiguities, hinting at Clarke’s personal journey and the broader narrative of rediscovery and confrontation.
The juxtaposition of darkness with a blazing focal point encapsulates a narrative of impending catastrophe and resilience for this fourth installment. Bathed in somber shades of dark gray and navy, the poster’s gloom is impaled by a fiery explosion, its hues of orange and yellow suggesting both danger and a call to action. Distanced, yet undeniably central, Clarke stands with a group of key characters on a hill, their collective gaze fixed on the looming threat, signaling unity in the face of adversity. The vast expanse of land separating them from the explosion emphasizes the journey and challenges they must navigate. Above, the dark, smoky clouds reinforce the magnitude of the disaster, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the season. Overall, the poster engages viewers into a tale of survival, choices, and the intricate balance between destruction and hope.
A clear visual division in this poster tells a tale of separation and survival. Bathed in muted tones of gray, blue, and an ominous red, the poster is bisected: the top echoes the expansiveness of space with Clarke and her allies who sought refuge among the stars, while the bottom, awash in a reddish hue, presents Octavia, commanding in red and black, surrounded by the bunker survivors. This divide underscores the contrasting journeys and challenges each group faced, hinting at inevitable reunions filled with tensions. The poster’s rough terrain speaks of the hardships endured, while the distant stars remind viewers of the broader universe’s allure and mysteries. Overall, it looks like a season where moral lines blur, decisions weigh heavy, and survival remains the ultimate goal.
Deviating into a realm of vibrant colors and mirrored imagery, signaling a shift in narrative and tone, we are introduced to a whole new world filled with its own challenges and mysteries. Dominated by symmetrical silhouettes of a girl, Clarke, it suggests themes of duality, introspection, and possibly conflicting paths. These mirrored images are set against a backdrop of lush woods, expansive grasslands, mountains, and an otherworldly pinkish-red moon, painting a picture of a new, uncharted world. This otherworldly view, mirrored on either side, alludes to parallel challenges, mirrored worlds, or internal and external conflicts. Through its non-dramatic storytelling technique, the poster teases viewers with the promise of exploration into unfamiliar terrains, both external and internal, hinting at a season filled with fresh challenges, choices, and revelations.
Finally, the last chapter in the story immerses viewers into a dreamscape drenched in green, yellow, and hints of blue, indicating an otherworldly narrative shift. Dominating the scene is a mysterious, symbol-inscribed stone, atop a body of water, displaying enigma and ancient significance. Floating in this ethereal realm and surrounding the mysterious stone are central characters, like Clarke and Octavia, hinting at their intertwined destinies. Darker silhouettes drift in the backdrop, suggesting a wider collective affected by or connected to this anomaly. The mountains and star-sprinkled sky, painted in the same surreal hues, emphasize the season’s venture into altered realities or dimensions. With its non-dramatic storytelling technique, this poster invites viewers into a final chapter filled with mystique, exploration, and the unraveling of truths.
In the end, visual storytelling stands out as an expressive medium, one that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. Whether through dramatic visuals that capture our attention or through more subtle, non-dramatic depictions that invite interpretations, visual stories provide a window into experiences. The interactive nature of some pictures, especially in the digital age, further bridges the gap between creator and viewer, crafting shared stories in real-time. As we’ve seen in our exploration of these seven posters, each has a story waiting to be discovered, if only we take the time to look, interpret, and feel.
References:
“In What Ways Do We Think about Visual Storytelling Every Day?” Multimedia Storytelling for Digital Communicators in a Multiplatform World, by Seth Gitner, New York, Routledge, 2015.
“Storytelling.” Essentials of Visual Communication, by Bo Bergstrom, Laurence King Publishing, 2008.
Montalto, Mike. “Worth 1,000 Words: The Four Principles of Visual Storytelling.” Amplifi, 12 May 2022, amplifinp.com/blog/4-principles-visual-storytelling.