In our Introduction to Visual Journalism class we've been looking at how important the golden section or rule of third is as a fundamental design principle. Recently the cover of Newsweek offers a good example of how this works.
This week's cover works both aesthetically and ideologically on viewers. Analyzing this picture lets us consider the interstice between the verbal and the visual as it is the compositional or aesthetic aspects of the frame.
Evaluating the Newsweek cover reveals one of the most persuasive and frequently exploited design tricks, the rule of thirds. In this case, George Bush's tightly cropped face on the right hand third of the frame has a relationship to the out of focus Rumsfeld, which fills the remaining two-third. What this suggests, aesthetically, is that the Bush's one-third relates to Rumsfeld's two-thirds as the two-thirds relates to the whole. The human eye find dynamic asymmetric compositions far more livelier than balanced, more formal scenes.
Gestalt psychology, pushing the concept that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, aligns itself with modern design principles. Looking closely at the frame, the juxtaposition of the word "Denial" seemingly tattooed across Rumsfeld's forehead provides a leading line into Bush's stern face. The textual element, with its large sans serif bold white with black outlined typography, also happens to be located in the upper left-hand third of the composition -- design real estate considered to be a prime entry point for the human eye. Rumsfeld's gaze, albeit out of focus, also contributes another leading line to the right hand third.
What are the ideological intentions of such an image?
In this instance, the signification or meaning of the frame rests in the tension created between Rumsfeld's gaze and Bush's mouth. Clearly, Bush has the platform, but the intensity of Rumsfeld's stare suggests something other than blind loyalty to the Commander in Chief. Is it a coincidence that the word "Denial" is emblazoned across Rumsfeld’s frontal lobe?