The Visual Language Of New Media Research

Digital technology has had a profound impact on the art of visual design,attracted the wide attention in the field of visual design theory, formed a variety oftheoretical explanations. But so far, there is still not enough research have been donefrom the perspective of visual language in depth either in domestic or abroad. Thereare two main reason. First,an unclear understanding to the role the digital technologyplayed in the visual design. With the usual way of thinking, the digital technology isalways considered as the assistant tools in print, cinema and television field, and othervisual design activities, not as an independent existing visual medium. But,after thepopularization of the Internet technology, digital technology profoundly impacts thevisual design just as a visual medium. Therefore, if we don't consider the digitaltechnology as a visual medium, it is impossible to truly understand what effect digitaltechnology made in visual design activities after it replaced the printing and filmtechnology.Another profound reason, is that the existing visual design theory is the purevisual concept built up from the cultural heritage on the basis of the traditionalEuropean painting. By this concept, it is impossible to explain the "interactive"viewing phenomenon involved not only images but also body actions in the digitalvisual media. Therefore,it still have to use the traditional visual theory system toconstruct the visual language of digital visual media, a new medium. Theconsequences of doing so is that the visual language of new media is recognized as anew visual language of cinema. But this understanding neither able to distinct thedifference between new media and traditional media,nor to adapt to the practicalsituation of visual design activities concerned the new media.To these theoretical problems, this article investigate the effect of in visualdesign from perspective regarding digital technology as visual medium,but also toanalyze the process of "interaction" by the methods of cognitive science and Gestaltpsychology,in the way of visual language. To recognize the unique experience ofviewers throughout the viewing process on the level of perception,I argue that thisprocess is the process that viewer put his body into viewing activities, which couldbe called 'embodied vision'. In way of embodied vision,what viewer viewed is nolonger the only visual image as in traditional vision,but 'actography',graphicpossessed characteristic of body action. Analyzed two basic elements: body actionand image, which construct the new media visual language, and its structure and express method.Though,as a concept,'actography' subvert the existing concept of imagesform,but properly explained the visual phenomenon in viewing activities of the newmedia,and clearly pointed out body action has become fundamental element of visualcomposition in vision design practice related to the new media.