Picture This: How Pictures Work

Discuss the significance of the “emotional horizon line” in Bang’s theory of picture composition and its effects on the viewer’s perception. Choose three artworks and discuss how the emotional horizon line works in them.

Bang uses “Little Red Riding Hood” to illustrate the principles of picture composition throughout the book. Choose another fairy tale and repeat this exercise; how do shape, color, and placement affect this story?

Throughout the book, Bang compares picture books to diptychs. Research diptychs and analyze the implications of this comparison. What does it mean to compare a children’s book to a religious work of art? How does this reflect Bang’s themes?