Marko 1 Alexis Marko Keaton Eng 112-15 2 May 2013 What is Success?

Through the exploratory proposal process the question arose, What is the true definition of success in school? There are several different opinions on this specific topic. For example, some feel that success is measured by high test scores and a prestigious choice of a career path. Others say that that it derives from being able to take classes that one enjoys and having the freedom to pick those classes. This visual analysis will consist of two different pictures that represent only two viewpoints. One involves the academic aspect as far as being successful, in which people find that good grades and core classes are the key to success in school. The other entails a more social and liberal approach to school. The analysis of these two pictures will answer the overall question of success. The first picture chosen is in a classroom setting with an open window peering out onto the landscape of a sunny day. Inside the classroom, everything is dull and colorless; where on the outside, there are lively trees and luscious landscapes. Everything outside is inviting and very appealing to the eyes. Among the trees and clouds, a flying bird has a banner in his mouth that reads The Arts. A picket sign in the ground has PE on it and on the mountain, the word Science is written out. All of the students in the classroom, except for one, have contraptions that almost appear to be cow milkers attached to their heads. Each device has three tubes coming down from the ceiling with the words, math, reading, and writing written on them. The Front of the helmet reads WASL, which stands for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

Marko 2 Along with this, the students have ear plugs and blinders almost like a horse would have. While the students are hard at work on what seems to be a difficult assignment, there is one little girl wearing a green sweater who is trying to climb out of the window. She is gazing out in desperation at what lies beyond the dreary walls of the classroom. The teacher who looks too artificial to be a real human is saying in a word bubble, Come away from that window! You dont want to be a child left behind, do you? This is implying George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind act of 2001. In response to the teacher, the girl says Sounds good to me! She appears to be choosing the path of the classes that seem to be less encouraged. The dull classroom may represent the fact that the standard or core topics in academics may not appeal to all students but these are the ones they have to pass in order to move on. The ear plugs and blinders may represent the strictness on plagiarism and how each student is to do their own work. The students that have the contraptions on all look stressed out and like they are not having fun. This could symbolize the lack of individuality there is when you are only given the opportunity to learn the core subjects of math, reading, and writing. However, according to the picture, these are the only subjects that a student needs in order to be successful in school. The beautiful landscape outside that contains the classes PE, the Arts, and Science may suggest that these classes are the more enjoyable, and therefore, frivolously unimportant courses. This could be why they have been placed on the outside. The student trying to climb out of the window represents all of the students that want to pursue classes beyond the required limits. And the teacher whose waxy face almost makes her look like a Barbie doll, is representing all of the teachers who do not really care about the individual student, and are just there to follow the rules and make money.

Marko 3 The overall argument or main idea for this comic would be the fact that math, reading and writing are the three subjects one needs to succeed and the other more fun subjects are just there for ones leisure. The next photograph analyzed in this visual analysis is one that has a more relaxed feel to it. The picture takes place in a bright and very open school setting. There is a male student that is the main focus of the picture. The student is not wearing a uniform. In fact, he is wearing a light grey sweater that has an intricate design with different shades of blue and white. His hair is spiked up with gel and he appears to be very exuberant with a wide smile on his face. He is holding a few textbooks in his hand which helps indicate the fact that he is in school. One thing in particular that stands out would be the headphones that are hanging around his neck. There is a group of three students that are standing at a distance in the corner of the photograph. They too are wearing bright colors, however they do not look as happy as the student that the photo is focused around. They are all in a huddle and are talking amongst themselves. Most children across the United States attend public schools. Similar to the appearance of the school in the second picture, public schools most of the time have no uniforms, boys and girls both attend, and students sometimes have freedoms to do things like wear headphones. The bright colored clothing in this picture may suggest the ability to express ones individuality through their wardrobe. The students in the background of the picture could represent the ratio of students that are thoroughly happy with their school careers to the amount that are not. In this case, it would be one to three. The student that appears closest to the camera may be smiling because he actually enjoys the school he goes to, what classes he takes, and the freedoms that he is allowed. He is off doing his own thing yet he is still happy and smiling showing that he is perfectly contempt with what he does and has a good balance between textbook work and

Marko 4 enjoyable activities. To some this may be the most important aspect needed in order to succeed in school. The overall argument in this photo would be that students can have a more enjoyable experience in school if they are given more freedom to express who they are as a person. That may be the definition of success for some people. Whether it be getting perfect grades and having little creativity, or having more of a social and individualistic school career, there are many arguments that can side with either opinion. The object of this visual analysis was to help clear up some of the views that people take on the overall idea of success in school.