A picture is worth a 1000 words. Other way around?

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Disclaimer: Every form of art, written or pictorial, is relatively as good as the other. No bias is driving my point. Can I be more honest? This post’s bottom line reiterates the importance of sensibly combining the written text with visual artifacts.

OK. Is a picture worth a 1000 words?

My answer is neither a “yes” nor a “no.” And it is not the classical “it depends” either. I sincerely say, “it does not matter.” Sounds that I am on a spiritual high, does it not?

“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an English language adage meaning that complex and sometimes multiple ideas can be conveyed by a single still image, which conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a mere verbal description. – Wikipedia

I accept the standard definition like any other sane person who understands the need for humans to communicate. However, I have to admit that this adage has created a new thought(a question, rather) each time it has come to my mind. I am listing a few such thoughts for your contemplation as a fellow artist. Wait a minute, did I just say that content writers are artists?

1000 or 612 or 9006, do we agree that a picture essentially disassembles into words in the mind of its observer? And all other emotions, actions, and ideas follow those words?

Reverse engineering the adage, is it not essential that we write such that our words draw a picture in the reader’s mind? Remember several people saying the infamous “I read it, but I didn’t get the big picture” remark on lousy writings?

Given that we process pictures faster than words, should we not strive to keep our writings short and simple? Not to match the speed with which one can grasp as pictures but help them visualize the “picture” in our words quicker? Why do we tend to forget the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) acronym?

Why does our mind even draw parallels? Are we not supposed to prepend our writing with such a picture to communicate the gist and establish the message? Can we? What if the stock photography does not come to our aid? Worse, let us say we do not have the time, medium, or money to create the right picture? Should we, therefore, think inclusive and have a combination where and when possible with a rough illustration?

…the flow of these thoughts will stop only when we realize that everything in the world, at least in arts, is unified.

Conclusion: The next time we see a picture that touches our observational depth, we could try describing it using our natural flow of words. One day, everyone who read our content will be able to draw the “picture” in our words as a reciprocation.

Purposefully yours, Content Shastra.