Meaning 2: Interactions Between the 3 Levels

In this informational document that illustrates some of the history and effects of coffee, all aspects of the three levels of visual communication and reception are present and clearly visible.

Representational

All throughout this document the representational level is present, as many of the illustrations were clearly created to replicate a real life object as accurately as possible, like that of the drawn image of a pressure cooker located in the top portion of the document. This image very clearly represents what it does as the illustrator replicated all the necessary parts of the object to leave as little guess work up to the viewer as possible. Although the image does not contain the small numbers on the pressure read out or many other small details about the object, the overall structure of the object is clearly visible which makes it a great example of how the representational level is present in this informational document.

Abstract

Along with the documents representational images there are also numerous abstract images that successfully carry the documents message to its viewers in a less obvious fashion. One image that sticks out and is a good example of this level of visual communication is the numerous abstract versions of human men and women seen acting out the many effects of coffee on the human body. One of these specific images in the document that stands out is the image that illustrates caffeine addiction and withdrawal. In this image we see an abstract image of a man, identifiable by the basic human silhouette symbol that we find recognizable, yet it is fairly more detailed by the color and shape differences between the man's clothes, skin, and hair. In this image we see what we infer is a male sitting with his back against a wall in a somewhat fetal position across from a spilled cup of what we assume to be coffee. In this image, although it lacks many details that a representative picture would, like that of the persons facial expressions, the abstract body language of the man infers to the body language associated with those going through a type of emotional turmoil. This illustrated body language added to the spilled cup of what we assume through context to be coffee presents the implied vision of addiction.

Symbolic

The final level that can be seen in this document is the symbolic level where very simple combinations of shapes are given a deeper meaning. In this document we see many symbols that on their own can be seen an ambiguous , but within this context they begin to say something. One example of this is seen in the image in the top of the document of the chemical symbols of caffeine. To the untrained eye outside of the informative document's content this symbol could be interpreted as many things and the entirety of its design is the combination of letters and connecting lines. This symbol is however very widely known throughout the world as it, and other chemical compounds like it, have been associated to the structure of chemicals throughout history. So although many people are not familiar with particular chemical structures, with the information accompanying this symbol we are able to view the image and understand it instantly.