In the chapter on “Building the emotional content of pictures”, Molly states that we always view pictures that we come across as extensions of our real world. Different shapes and colors have the ability to interact with and influence our emotions differently depending on the context in which they are used. For instance, as explained in the book, the flat surfaces give a feeling of stability and the wider the more stable, like a calm sea. The author adds that people also react to colors differently resulting from what natural objects they associate with the colors e.g. yellow is associated with the sun, black with darkness, and the color red is associated with blood or even fire and so on. These colors and shapes often work together in different contexts to elicit different emotions from people.
The shape in the picture gives one a feeling of calmness but in deep thought like there could be a deeper meaning to that object. The object in the picture takes the shape of an apple which is something people eat and doesn’t pose a threat to anyone thus the shape gives one a sense of calm since it is something one is familiar and comfortable with. The smooth curves of the picture also add to the sense of calm. The author points out that rounded shapes give people a sense of security and comfort connecting this to the association babies have with their mothers’ bodies; they felt like the most secure place one could be and very comfortable.
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The calmness in the picture however comes with a feeling of darkness or depth about it due to the black color used therein. The artistic use of black and white in the shape itself gives the object some texture making it feel very real and drawing the onlooker in the dark deep world within the object. This object has the effect of eliciting deep thought in the onlooker but in a stable and calm manner. The curved lines give the object some calm but the color takes away life from it even removing its edibility; it is no longer a fruit to be eaten. The author duly notes that the association of objects using the colors used therein is usually instant and quite strong thus it has the ability to overwhelm the shapes used. The fact that the apple is very central and seems close in the picture also makes it feel close to the onlooker who is able to influenced more by the picture. The more distant an object feels, the harder it is to connect with it emotionally. In the book for instance, the author claims that the more distant Little Red Riding Hood was from her, the harder it was to sympathize with her or feel attached to her.
