JFreshmen Newsroom: Cave Paintings: Modern Visual Language

The development of visual language established a means of broad transmission, and has evolved to be the primary means of mass communication, while playing an enormous role in all types of communication. Our culture passively subscribes to all types of language and symbols that have their roots in primitive methods.

Famous song lyrics spray-painted on campus steps. Photo by Dani Parker

The pictograph is identified as the first form of writing. This medium is exemplified by ancient cave paintings, leftover from primitive man. The images illustrate the specific objects they are representing (horses, children, warriors), a method commonly used today (Pedestrian crossings, bike lanes). As these got more sophisticated, another genre of communication developed using ideographs. These are abstract figures or symbols that stand for an object or an idea (nike swoosh, musical notes). Finally, alphabets were established, and the seed of modern communication was firmly rooted.

Offical Label on a trash can. Photo by Aaron Diebold

Almost every aspect of our technological and sophisticated lives takes influence from these primary innovations. After thousands of years, our culture still relies wholly on these primitive means and concepts, having expanded for the most part only in technique and breadth. In Athens, Ohio, our "place of higher learning" demonstrates this commonality of human nature and history, displaying visual language in all its reach.