Stones, CM, Stark, J orcid.org/0000-0002-0638-0804, Rutter, S orcid.org/0000-0002-3249-5269 et al. (1 more author) (2022) The visual representation of germs: a typology of popular germ depictions. Visual Communication, 21 (1). pp. 97-122. ISSN 1470-3572
Abstract
Germs have been visually represented in popular texts for over 100 years, yet little is understood about the dominant practices/concepts resident in such images. This paper presents a new typology of popular germ representations from the UK consisting of three main types: Scientific, Carrier and Analogous. The first category pertains to the realm of the scientist, the second to domestic space and social norms, and the third, primarily, to the realm of imagination. The study identifies a further 13 sub-types and discusses each, in turn. We argue that a more varied range of germ images exist than the previous binary positioning of germ representations in the U.S. would suggest. We account for the continued adoption of the Analogous Germ in relation to four key cultural forces and problematize the use of the Monster Germ and its alignment of ugliness and obesity with disease.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2019. This is an author produced version of a paper accepted for publication in Visual Communication. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | bacteria, germs, health, hygiene, typology |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Design (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science (Leeds) > School of Philosophy (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number AHRC (Arts & Humanities Research Council) AH/R002029/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 11 Nov 2019 11:56 |
Last Modified: | 11 Feb 2022 12:26 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/1470357219896055 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:153269 |