Visual Data

Visual data is used to better portray the topics that we learn about in Sociology. The use of images and other forms of visual aids can be used as a tool to present a variety of topics and give a face to an issue. The topic of domestic violence is a prime example of how using pictures and videos helps to understand the effect that abuse has a the individual and the family. In the case of domestic violence, I believe that the visual aid helps to raise empathy levels and therefore more people are more likely to accept domestic violence as a major societal issue. People are more likely to feel for those living pain. Viewing domestic violence in a home is a traumatic experience. Apart from educational purposes, children that witness domestic violence in person are more likely to suffer from the effects of the experience later in life (Choi et al 2012). This shows that learning about domestic violence, although damaging, is not as traumatic as witnessing the abuse. Although, this is not a media representation, the idea of frozen images of abuse has gruesome effects as well. 

Photography is a visual source that relays a direct message to the viewers. Photographs of bruised faces and busted lips become very realistic and allow the viewer to imagine the pain and potentially relive the cause of these markings. What had happened to cause these bumps and bruises? According to Leigh Raiford (2009), photography was able to capture a moment quickly, and take in an experience for how it was unhindered by mankind. In other words, photography was able to capture visuals in the moment without being distorted. Photographs of battered victims allow for others to fully grasp the intensity and brutality behind domestic violence. One could not accurately describe pain as in depth as an image. 

Public service announcements are another visual aid that helps to broadcast popular issues to a wide variety of people. PSA typically take a story and place an emphasis on the negative aspects. The purpose of the PSA is to change the minds of a specific target group and to help this group to grasp a full understanding of the issue at hand. According to Andsager et al (2001), for a public service announcement to be successful, it is essential to have the behaviors be desirable for the given target group, for positive PSA’s to promote the positive cause, however negative and informational public services announcements that are advocating for a cause are more memorable and have made more of an impact of it’s audience in comparison to the positive and uplifting messages. A public service announcement about domestic violence may allow another to see the fear instilled in a victim. They could see the manipulative and controlling behaviors that lead to victims staying with their abusers. The truth is that most people are unaware of the dangers and prevalence of this issue. 

Another video portrayal of this topic is through film. The film “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” a film depicting the true story of Tina Turner and her rise stardom while living with an abuser (Shoos 2003). The film elaborates on the abuse and is a quality representation of an abusive relationship. Also, the film displays the complexities of domestic violence in regards to gender, race and class. These demographics are deeply intertwined into this topic. Furthermore, Kathy White (1985), explains her experience instructing a college course called “Women and Violence in Literature and the Media.” Introducing students to different media aspects including documentaries to inquire more on the emotional and psychological forms of abuse. Speakers within the documentary touch upon the explanations behind why any victim remains with the abuser. Also, the political and financial discrepancies that fuel the arguments beyond control and become destructive.

Overall, reading about the different forms of abuse and seeing the abuse in an image are very different. Society is unaware of the severity that domestic violence more often than not comes to. This is a problem that stems from control and the need for obedience. Furthermore, by learning more about domestic violence in video and film as well as in photography, we could see the physical abuse as well as the emotional effects that it has on the victim. 

1. Andsager, Julie L., Erica Weintraub Austin & Bruce E. Pinkleton. “Questioning the Value of Realism: Young Adults’ Processing of Messages in Alcohol-Related Public Service Announcements and Advertising.” Journal of Communication. 51 (2001): 121-142.

2. Choi, Jeewook, Bumseok Jeong, Ann Polcari, Michael L. Rohan & Martin H. Teicher. “Reduced fractional anisotropy in the visual limbic pathway of young adults witnessing domestic violence in childhood.” NeuroImage 59 (2012): 1071-1079. 

3. Raiford, Leigh. “Photography and the Practices of Critical Black Memory.” History and Theory. 48 (2009): 112-129. 

4. Shnoos, Diane. “Representing Domestic Violence: Ambivalence and Difference in “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” NWSA Journal. 15 (2003): 57-75.

5. White, Kathy. “Teaching about Women and Violence.” Women’s Studies Quarterly. 13 (1985): 23-26.