Syntactical Guidelines

The Juxtaposed: Power Shelf by Mike and Maaike uses the horizontal construct to emphasize the balance and sharpening of this shelf. Because the shelf can only fit seven books, it has a large empty space to the right of where the books are. This may seem to create a visual imbalance, but once other items are stored on the shelf the dynamic compositions off the books and other items on the shelf will create a visually balanced shelf. Because the books are stored all the way to the left, the stress and focus visually create sharpening. All the focus and stress of the shelf is seen where the books are located. Even though the books may create sharpening, doesn't mean it has to be imbalanced. At the moment the shelf may seem to be imbalanced, but once other items are stored next to the books, the horizontal balance will become apparent. Both balance and sharpening can be syntactical guidelines for visual literacy.

The Saci Chair by Rafael Morgan displays poor visual balance. Because the chair only has one wooden leg and three acrylic legs, the composition is ambiguous. If the chair was not leaning back and had four wooden legs, then it could be visually balanced. The perception of this chair to the viewer is relating a message of being unstable and visually imbalanced. Another reason why this chair is not visually balanced is because the one wooden leg is the main focus of the chair. Since the other legs are not dark wood, they are not noticeable. The viewer will see that the legs of the chair make the chair itself imbalanced.