IB paper 1 vocab

signifier

object representing concept

composition

positioning of elements within an image

negative space

empty area surrounding object

visual narrative

storytelling through images

anchoring

using text to guide interpretation of image

ears

elements in corner of front page of publication, usually teasers

ambient advertising

placement of ads in unusual places

guerilla advertising

ads that use unorthodox tactics

PSA

serves public/spread awareness rather than advertise

problem and benefit design

ads pointing out a need you didn’t know you had, then offering their product as solution

caricature

image of person/thing exaggerated for humour/satire

topical

reference to current events or contemporary issues relevant to the audience

gutter

white strips around comic box

emanata

lines drawn around comic character to show movement/emotion

paralanguage

vocalic features that create meaning alongside words (tone, delivery, enunciation)

anaphora

repetition of word/phrase at beginning of clause/sentence

diacope

repetition of word/phrase after intervening clause/sentence

antithesis

direct contrast/opposite

chiasmus

reversal in order of words that are otherwise grammatically parallel

anadiplosis

repetition of word/phrase at end of one clause and beginning of successive clause

amplify

embellishing a phrase with more meaning

tricolon

series of 3 words, phrases, clauses

hypophora

raising & answering that question

poly/asyndeton

use of many/very few conjunctions

readership

group that regularly reads a magazine/publication/etc.

weasel word

use of evasive language to be less clear. prevarication, ambiguity, equivocation, euphemism

glittering generalities

propaganda that elicits vague feelings of positivity

dysphemism

opposite of euphemism. deliberately rude/insolent

disinformation

deliberate falsification of fact

feature article

in-depth reporter article

human-interest story

written to evoke emotion out of audience

tautology

redundancy in word/phrases

signpost

brief statement indicating where attention should be directed

cogency

being clear/logical/convincing in argument

subvert

to undermine/challenge/overturn established conventions

admonish

to reprimand/warn/caution

to commemorate

honour/celebrate/memorialise

exhort

strongly encourage audience to take action. galvanise

propagative

intended to spread/instill belief/cause

polemical

expressing critical/controversial/disputatious opinion

vindicate

to clear from blame, justify an idea/individual

disparage

to belittle/depreciate

legitimise

give formal authorisation to act/narrative/figure

pander

gratify audiences’ lower desires/biases/superficial preferences

demystify

make understandable an explanation

reify

treat abstract concept as if it were concrete reality

exonerate

to officially acquit, clear of guilt, absolve from fault

castigate

to criticise severely within discourse

interrogate

critically question set of assumptions

excoriate

to criticise/censure someone harshly

embellish

make statement more interesting by adding false/exaggerated details

condescend

to show feelings of superiority/patronisation

sardonic

grimly mocking/cynical

pragmatic

sensibly/realistically dealing with things

irreverent

showing lack of respect for people/conventions usually taken seriously

didactic

intended to teach in patronising/morally instructive manner

earnest

sincere/intense

contemptuous

showing deep hatred/scorn/disrespect

wistful

showing vague/regretful/melancholy longing

plaintive

sounding sad/sorrowuful

dogmatic

inflexible, inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true

sanctimonious

making a show of being morally superior

fervent

displaying passionate/intense/eager enthusiasm

impassioned

showing great emotion/fervour

indignant

feeling anger or annoyance at unfair treatment

jocular

characterised by playfulness/humour

bifurcate

to divide into two distinct, often opposing, themes/branches

delineate

to describe or outline something precisely/clearly

enumerate

mention or list a number of things cumulatively

elucidate

make something clear/ transparent through explanation

synthesis

combination of ideas to form a complex, cohesive, unified whole

precursor

something coming before another

dichotomy

division/contrast between two things represented as entirely different

culmination

climax point of a development

superimpose

to place one concept/structure over another for effect

extrapolate

to extend application of method/conclusion to an unknown situation

interpolate

to insert something secondary/extraneous into something else

disjunction

lack of correspondence/consistency/connection between elements

recapitulate

to summarise again

permeate

spread through every part of a text

resonance

quality of evoking lasting images/responses

cohesion

action/state of being unified

polysemic

having multiple meanings

incongruous

inconsistent, incompatible within context

visceral

evoking instinctual inward feelings rather than intellectual

transient

ephemeral

esoteric

only understood by a small, specialised audience

ineffable

too extreme/profound to be expressed in words

equivocal

having multiple interpretations, being ambiguous

pervasive

spreading widely throughout an area

cryptic

obscure, intentionally veiled

multifaceted

having many aspects, phases, layers

hegemonic

ruling, dominant, supreme in context

ubiquitous

found everywhere

iconoclastic

attacking cherished beliefs/tradition/values

paternalistic

managing or dictating to people in fatherly/patronising character

sensationalist

presenting information to provoke interest/excitement

instrumental

crucial as a tool in pursuing an aim

commercialised

exploited/designed for financial gain

egalitarian

promoting principle that all people are equal