Defusing Controversial Topics: Visual Semiotics in an Atlantic Canadian Textbook

Abstract

Drawing upon Gunther Kress' and Theo van Leeuwen's work on the meta functional grammar of visual design, this paper studies how visual se-lections in an Atlantic Canadian social studies textbook deflect attention from the political, particularly in sections narrating contentious events. Looking closely at one section from the book, '~ Focus On Fine Art," this discussion first examines visual realizations in the interpersonal metafunction (specifi-cally modality choices) and how low-modality, artistic renderings of conflict effectively make it a site of speculation rather than engagement. It then analy-ses the ideational work of the visuals and suggests that conceptual (and not narrative) representations invite a generic rather than specific understand-ing of, in this case, forced relocation in Newfoundland. Finally, the paper studies the organizational choices of visuals in the book and, focussing on the before and after picture, proposes a new visual phenomenon-the visual ergative-for understanding how visual selections can sidestep important questions of agency and power. The paper ends by situating visual analysis within a larger project of critical literacy and everyday practice.