MEANING 1

This is a representation of a pair of shoes.  This photograph in full and natural color is the closest thing to the pair of shoes rather than direct experience.  The photograph enables the viewer to see that the shoes are a unique pair of shoes and not a generic form of a pair of shoes.  The photograph has many details.  Details of the color of the shoes, the brand of the shoes, the style of the shoes, and where the shoes are.  The photograph of the pair of shoes is clearly a representation by the information and details the viewer is able to receive.

This is an abstract depiction of a shoe.  This is an example of abstraction because there is a reduction of basic elements and detail.  There is less detail in the picture but it still retains recognizable information of being a shoe.  The abstraction is derived from representation.  This picture is moving away from more detail to a more simple form of a shoe.  It communicates to the viewer that it is a shoe, through its simplification of form and shape.

The Nike swoosh is my example of symbolism.  The Nike swoosh is symbolic because it is very simple and easily recognizable.  The symbol signifies the brand of Nike because it is used as their logo.  The Nike swoosh can also signify strength and even a way of life.  The viewer would recognize this through experience and history of viewing it before.  There is very little detail in this symbol and is information packed.