Iconographic Analysis of the Nigerian The Punch Newspaper’s Expression Section

Abstract

This paper explored the meanings of both the written and unwritten words through the Ten (10) visual images which were randomly selected from one of the Nigerian Newspapers: The Punch newspaper, since there is a particular part of the newspaper (at the back page) that is designated to these pictures tagged: Expression. The selected images were analysed using Kress and Van Leeuwen (2006) multi-modal analysis as a theoretical framework, which was anchored on social-semiotic representation as the framework for this study. The study, therefore, reveals that images and visual expressions together with modes are constructs and they serve as records of reality, as documentary, evidence of the people, places, things, actions, and events they depict. These images are used most of the time as symbols and references to time, place, people, or a representation of a particular issue or scenario. This study also shows that the analysed images are sources of factual information, even though the images may not have been specially produced for such purposes. The use of the visual and the written modes as the situations may require has the potential to present facts and actual situations of life. This will also be an awareness call on international societies, philanthropists, and other NGOs to come to support the people who are in need of  life supports in various areas of the  society.