Interpreting Visual Representations Historically.
A smart man once said: "a picture paints a thousand words." Vision has always been one of the most vital tools which human beings possess for perception, and ultimately survival. In fact, when evaluating history, vision may be the best sense which we possess in gaining a better understanding of our past; because most historical items, until the past century, were only able to be preserved through methods, such as written and photographed documents, where vision was the only sense which was applicable in analyzing and interpreting the historical background. A true historian is able to gain many valuable insights into a time period by viewing a single image. By understanding significant historical events, one is able to recognize the time origin of a visual image by identifying the social trends, represented through common externalities. .
Upon reflection, humanity seems to have developed an unspoken and universally accepted formula for evaluating, and understanding their contemporaries. The human concept, has inadvertently been reduced to generic external vantage points; yet they seem to fluctuate as society evolves. Based on the common values and practices of a society, these vantage points, define a person's identity within a society. .
For instance, the status of overweight people today, represents polar opposite values in comparison to previous generations. A fat person for generation symbolized wealth, an indication that the individual was able to afford a healthy elaborate diet. However, today, in a media dominated culture, where physical appearance bears unprecedented influence on social thinking, the most affluent individuals, such as sports figures and entertainers, sport a different look. In fact, many women portrayed in modern advertisements depict frailty and artificial vibes. Many of the women appearing in the public eye, and serving as models for the ideal women, actually are unhealthy; in many cases, leading to eating disorders such as bulimia.