visual language / 視覺語言

進入十一月，我們開始第二個月的課程，上個月的重點在於繪畫訓練，這個月則是和平面設計組的同學分組合作，過去的週末我們得看各種「羅密歐與茱麗葉」的詮釋版本，做好筆記寫下劇中要討論的主題，今天進畫室討論。

In November, we start our second month's courses. The focus of last month's was training in drawing. This month, we are put into groups with graphic art majors. Last weekend our assignment was to see as many interpretations of the play Romeo and Juliet. We were asked to jot down themes and notes so as to have class discussions today.

有時候我也不懂自己，在某些天我就是無法開口說話，我想到十多年前在美國讀文學，最後老師給我的評語是，如果要走學術研究，得多舉手發言。當了十年的老師，在每個安靜的場合沒話找話說，現在再度當了學生，有時候想當隱形人的心態又上身了，所以明明這就是我應該要說點話的時候，我什麼也講不出來，但身邊的英國同學發言踴躍，大家集思廣益，最後德瑞克生出十個大主題讓每組發揮。

Sometimes I don't understand myself. I can't tell when I don't feel like talking, but that does happen. It occurs to me that when I was studying literature back in the US more than 10 years ago, one of the professors gave me the critique that if I'd like to work in the academic circle, I had to talk more. After having been a teacher for 10 years and saying all kinds of stuff on silent occasions, the desire to be invisible returns. Today I should have said something, but I couldn't. However, the British students around me kept coming up with ideas. In the end, Derek sorted out ten themes for each group to work on.

我們這組得到「語言」的主題，但是上周傑克強烈建議我們不要讀原作，因為原作是用來被演的，所以他希望我們去看電影或漫畫版本，雖然同學茹絲隨身帶著劇本，要在兩個小時之內把語言使用作分析，並且用圖像及視覺語言表達出來，這應該是最難的題目之一。

My group got the topic of "language." But last week Jake strongly advised us not to read the original play because it is meant to be performed. He hoped that we would read comic or watch 3-D interpretations. Though Ruth had the play, it was a challenge to have a good look at the use of the language in the play and summarize it in terms of images and visual language within two hours. I bet this was one of the most difficult topics of all.

團體討論只剩五個人，不說點什麼有點說不過去，我想到全班討論時，德瑞克提到劇中人物很喜歡說表面話，其實話中的意思不盡如此，就跟大家提了玫瑰花的意象，因為視覺語言的重點在於拿一個大家很容易認可的意象去代表某個想法。之後大家各自去圖書館收集更多圖像，但是我們這組對於方向總是有種無法發揮的感覺，所以感到有些沮喪。

It would be too much not to say anything since there were only five people in a group. I thought of one point in our earlier class discussion when Derek mentioned that many characters play on their use of language which actually hides a lot of connotations and symbols. I thus told everyone about the imagery of roses. Visual language is about using a symbol or image that people can identify easily to represent one idea. Afterwards, we went to the library to do more searching online for images. However, we didn't quite figure out our direction, so some of us felt stuck and frustrated.

時間一到，各組把集思廣益的海報貼在牆上一組一組作說明，看了別組內心想要閃躲的想法越來越強烈，聽到哪些人被稱讚就更想躲起來，看到泰緹安娜優秀的手繪就更自慚形穢，人家連看一部「西城故事」都邊把劇中人物的肢體語言用速寫畫下來，我昨晚邊看邊做甩手操，這就是我們之間的差別啊！總之到了我們這組時，已經是最後了，外面天已經黑了，大家都想回家，主持的山姆很簡單地帶過我們的發想，讓每個人說點話，德瑞克做評論一開口便說：我喜歡你的玫瑰意象。這對我來說真是個驚喜，我一整天都不太知道自己的方向，但因為這句話，還有自我檢討，再給我一點時間，我就會適應這樣的討論模式。

When time was up, every group put up their A3 sheets on the wall and gave presentations. After having seen others' works, my inclination to escape got stronger and stronger. Upon hearing people's being complimented, I felt like hiding. Tatiana's super lovely hand-drawn images made me feel so inferior. She actually did the sketches while watching the movie The West Side Story. Last night when watching it, I was doing my hand-shaking exercise. This is the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US. When it was our turn, we were the last group. The sky was already dark and everyone was eager to go home. Our host Sam gave a very brief introduction and let everyone do their own talking. As soon as Derek gave the feedback, he started by saying, "I like your rose image!" It was a very nice surprise for me because I  felt rather at a loss for a whole day. Because of his words and my self-introspect, I think I'll be used to such forms of discussion and brainstorming soon.

回家的路上我和繪里說，我常常想到現在的生活和父母覺得我應該要過的生活之間的對照，怎麼想都覺得很幸福，之後回頭看，一定就連今天一整天的討論日也會難以忘懷‧‧‧

On my way home I told Elie that I often compare my life at this moment with the life that my parents think I should be leading. From whichever angle, I feel blessed. I believe that in the future when I look back, I will definitely find a long discussion day like today totally unforgettable...