Discussion #5 - Composition

COMPOSITION (kom po ZISH shun)1. A putting together of parts or elements to form a whole; a combining
2. A short essay; especially one written as a school exercise
3. The plan, placement or arrangement of elements or ingredients in an art work


Though composition requires parts, it cannot be considered except as a whole. Composition is to its elements as a recipe is to its ingredients. You can't make cookies without flour, butter and sugar, but having those ingredients poured into a bowl is a whole lot different than cookies.
Humans see the whole before we see the parts. This would suggest that we have a natural tendency toward completeness or harmony.

There are rules of composition just as there are rules of language. In both cases, these are only useful as starting points. The difference between language (which communicates) and gibberish (which does not) is an adherence to fundamental rules. Conventional spelling, pronunciation, grammar and structure do not make communication good-they only make it possible.
Similarly, in visual language, following rules of composition should be seen as a stepping off point, a minimum standard.

Here are a few of the rules of composition:

• Avoid placement of an item in dead center
• Symmetry (equal visual weight on both sides) tends to promote stability
• Diagonals are more active than horizontals
• Proximity creates tension
• Sameness is frequently boring
• Regularity creates rhythm
• Contrast exaggerates an effect
• Placement of items in corners creates awkward tension
• Arches support weight, inverted arches imply weight
• Equal amounts of figure and ground confuse the eye


For your response, copy and paste one of the bulleted compositional rules above. Then explain what you think it might mean in one or two sentences. Please do not mimic someone else's explanation.