Imaging is a discipline that focuses on the study of images and its meaning in different contexts, such as the personal, business figure, the political, brand and country image.
This is nourished by different areas of knowledge and has a practical application in the world. Imagology analyzes how the image communicates and transmits messages and how it can be modified to achieve a positive impact on people’s perception.
imagology concept
It is a discipline that focuses on the study of the image projected by people, companies, brands and nations, among others. It focuses on analyzing how images influence the perceptions and judgments that others have about them.
imagology deals with various aspects related to image, such as clothing, body language, physical appearance, verbal and non-verbal communication, advertising and marketing, among others. That is why it is used in different fields such as politics, business, advertising, entertainment, and fashion.
In the business field, imaging can be used to enhance the representation of a brand or a company, and thus differentiate itself from the competition. In politics, it is used to create a positive image of the candidate or the party through neologism, and thus influence the perception of voters.
Origin of imaging
The origin is difficult to specify, since its study has been approached from different perspectives along the history. However, it can be said that as a modern discipline it originated in the 20th century.
In Europe, it developed from the studies carried out by philologists and historians with a degree in art on the representation of images in literature and the visual arts. In particular, focused on the analysis of the image of the characters and the symbols used in literary and artistic works.
In the United States, imaging developed out of the studies on visual communication and advertising. In the mid-20th century, advertising began to use visual persuasion techniques to influence how consumers viewed products and brands. This led to the creation of a discipline focused on the analysis of representation in the context of advertising and marketing.
Currently, imaging It has spread to different fields, such as politics, business, fashion and entertainment. Its origin goes back to studies on visual representation and communication. It has evolved to become an interdisciplinary discipline that addresses the image in its symbolic and communicative dimension.
What is the field of study of imaging?
His field of study is wide and covers various related aspects with the image projected by people, companies, brands and countries, among others. Below are some of the main fields of study of imaging:
- Personal image: Refers to The way that a person presents himself to others. This field of study of imagology focuses on analyzing a person’s physical appearance, clothing, body language, and verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Business image: Refers to the figure that a company or brand projects to its clients and stakeholders. This field of study of imagology focuses on analyzing a company’s branding, advertising and marketing strategy, and how they relate to its corporate portrait.
- Political image: Refers to the way in which politicians and political parties stand before the voters and public opinion. This field of study of imagology focuses on analyzing the communication strategy, body language, physical appearance and public figure of politicians.
- Brand image: Refers to the perception that consumers have of a company. This field of study of imagology focuses on analyzing the branding strategy, advertising and marketing of a brand, and how they relate to the perception of consumers.
- Country image: Refers to the representation that a nation projects before international public opinion. This field of study of imagology focuses on analyzing the culture, history, politics, and economy of a region, and how they relate to its public figure.
What are the characteristics of imaging?
The characteristics of imaging as a discipline are the following:
- Interdisciplinarity: It is a discipline that draws on different areas of knowledge, such as semiotics, sociology, psychology, communication and art history, among others. This allows for a holistic and complex approach to the image.
- Image analysis: Focuses on the study of the brand and its meaning. This includes both the investigation of the visual figure and the symbolic image and its connection with culture and society.
- Relationship with communication: It is closely related to communication, since it focuses on the way in which the image communicates and transmits messages. This is considered a language that can be parsed and understood.
- Practical application: imaging It has a practical application in different fields, such as marketing, advertising, fashion, politics and business. It is used to enhance the image of people, companies and brands, and influence the interpretation of others.
- Focus on perception: It focuses on the understanding that others have of an image. It analyzes how the figure influences the intuition of people and how images can be modified for positive impact.
