Iconic image clusters: Significance, structure, and analysis

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24434/j.scoms.2024.01.3919

Keywords:

image clusters, hyperimages, figurative hermeneutics, visual communication, visual sociology

Abstract

This paper explores the phenomenon of iconic image clusters and presents a method for analyzing them. It specifically focuses on compiling individual images into extensive image clusters, such as weblogs, photo series, or image galleries. The analytical interest in this topic is based on the assumption that the compilation and presentation of images are independent means of expression and presentation in visual media. Iconic image clusters can emphasize thematic aspects, highlight contrasts, create styles, or provide visual evidence. In other words, iconic image clusters reflect several communicative possibilities that arise from the technical reproducibility of images. Iconic image clusters belong to the subclass of contemporary hypertext / hyperimage phenomena in media theory and are manifestations of the human ability to generate meaning through relations of similarity and difference in communication theory. This article addresses how iconic image clusters can be analyzed validly. It discusses the communicative structure and functioning of such clusters and proposes a procedure for their analysis. The proposed method is illustrated with examples, including a photographic weblog.

Downloads

Published

2024-05-08

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 1: Studies in Communication Sciences

Section

Thematic Section: Images, clusters and types

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Michael R. Müller

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The electronic contributions in the Internet are distributed under the "Creative Commons Attribution – ShareAlike" - License (CC BY-SA 4.0). Under the new license, anyone can use, distribute, and modify the content if they credit the original author and share any new creations under the same or compatible conditions. Here are the key features of the CC-BY-SA license:

  • CC (Creative Commons): A globally recognized framework for licensing creative works.
  • BY (Attribution): Requires acknowledgment of the author whenever the work is used.
  • SA (ShareAlike): Ensures that adaptations of the work are distributed under the same or compatible licensing terms.

How to Cite

Müller, M. R. (2024). Iconic image clusters: Significance, structure, and analysis. Studies in Communication Sciences, 24(1), 89–101. https://doi.org/10.24434/j.scoms.2024.01.3919