Abstract
This paper introduces a theoretical framework that positions stylization as a central mechanism of interpretability in visual communication, showing how images act as advocates shaping cultural conversations. Building on Peirce’s semiotics, Barthes’s rhetoric of the image, Shklovsky’s defamiliarization, and Arnheim’s Gestalt analysis, the study bridges semiotic and formalist traditions to address a persistent gap in communication theory: the underexplored role of style in meaning-making. We propose the Visual Interpretability Spectrum, a model that extends Peirce’s triadic semiotics by incorporating stylization and perception as mediating forces. Interpretability is defined as the range of aesthetic and semiotic engagement — from controlled informative works (e.g., infographics, Baroque religious paintings) that advocate clarity and authority, to open-ended expressive forms (e.g., abstract art, Persian miniatures, and Eastern aesthetics of blank space) that advocate multiplicity and dialogue. Stylization, through perspective, color, or exaggeration, actively intervenes in cultural discourse by defamiliarizing perception and inviting layered interpretation. Case studies illustrate how images across cultures advocate for distinct worldviews: Byzantine icons foster contemplation, Baroque art directs narrative devotion, Persian miniatures emphasize layered storytelling, and Eastern traditions utilize openness to cultivate resonance. Together, these examples demonstrate how visual language functions as both structured grammar and expressive voice, shaping conversations about values, identities, and ways of seeing. By situating visual communication along a spectrum of intentionality and interpretability, this paper contributes to media theory and pedagogy, emphasizing images as active cultural agents that negotiate meaning within and across societies.
Presenters
Hadi RahmatiAssistant Professor, Visual Communication Design, Kent State University, Ohio, United States Jessica Barness
Professor, Visual Communication Design, Kent State University, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—The Image as Advocate: Shaping Cultural Conversations
KEYWORDS
Aesthetics, Communication, Design Theory, Stylization, Interpretability Spectrum
