Voices in the Park: A Modern Picturebook...

1.  Explain why Voices in the Park is an example of postmodern picturebook.

Voices in the Park as with many other picturebooks allows the student to read at their own pace, to go back and review, to stop and explore, and to reflect and experience this wonderful and unique exposure to the world of reading and beyond.  Voices in the Park as with other picturesbooks are not dictated by technology, even though it is developed beautifully by technology, and can easily transport the youngster into the pages by the extraordinary use of multimodal ensembles.

2.  Give examples of how at least three of the picturebook codes listed on page 78 are used in Voices in the Park.

Code of Perspective is realized on the very first slide where Mummy, son Charles and Victoria the lab are walking down the sidewalk headed to the park.  As they are walking along, the rules of linear perspective is evident by their horizontal placement and the effect of them walking out of the frame's vision emphasizes our perspective using vanishing point influence.  The effect is that we are experiencing them moving closer to the park and getting excited about that.

Code of Position is represented in the slide where Mum, Charles and Victoria arrive at the park.  They are in the center of the frame, so we focus our attention on them.  Another element of position represented in this frame involves the other people walking and walking their dogs on the paths in the background.  They are smaller in size by virtue of their position in the picture.  However, they also help set the scene and our perspective of the scene.

Code of Color is made evident in the scene where Mummy cannot find Charles and she is hollering for him. Her head and face fill the screen with lots of color from her hat which extends beyond the frame lines.  Her eyes are so large and white reflecting the fear she is experiencing because she doesn't see Charles.

3.  Identify and explain the type of "interplay" between the written word and visual images on one of the pages in Voices in the Park.  

On the page where Mum, Charles and Victoria arrive at the park, and Mum is getting him off his leash so he can run and play, the written words and visual images are symmetrical and enhancing. The visual images parallel the text and they are enhanced as well by the people walking along the trail in the background and walking their dogs.  It is a great effect.

4.  Identify the art movement or technique that is being used in Voices in the Park.

The art movement is post modern.  The use of words is a central element with a simple collage of art enhanced by multimedia motion.

5.  Conduct an Ideological Analysis and Structural Analysis of Voices in the Park.  What is the message?  Provide evidence from images to support your opinion (i.e. pp 86, 87, 89). 

The structure of the picture pages in Voices in the Park is very important as it brings the characters to the forefront so you understand they are the focus.  In almost all the pictures there is background that enhances the scene giving the viewer a fuller conception of what the story is about. It reminds me of looking into an old 3-D viewfinder with added motion. For example, beginning with the journey to the park, the characters are in the forefront but in the background the scene shows a snapshot of the neighborhoods they are coming from to get to the park.  The same can be said for the return trip.  Another example I really liked is the scene where Smudge's dad is letting the do loose and says the dog really loves it there at the park.  You sense that it is a fun place, and that is brought more to life by "Mary Poppins" flying by in the background.

The ideological analysis of of Voices in the Park renders perceptions of the different characters as to the trip to the park.  Scenes from the different characters depict what was important to them when they took the dog to the park.  For instance, in the scene where Mummy caught sight of Charles way down the path surrounded by trees, she said that he was a rough-looking child even though you could barely see the children.  A similar scene of the path lined by the trees narrated by Smudge shows Charles and Smudge surrounded by a bright light at the end of a dark pathway, and Smudge is quite happy that Charlie gave her a flower.