An image says more than words : a qualitative essay about the pictorial language of children and youth in Westafrica

Abstract: The pictorial language of the Swedish children is characterized by the idea that a “good” drawing should be in the right perspective and as photographically realistic as possible. This is a study about the pictorial language of the children in the Gambia and Senegal. Is the pictorial language different with the children living in a culture that has a stronger tradition of spoken word and visual communication than the children living in the western civilisation? With the help of different theories concerning children’s creating of art, this study is trying to sort out the differences. It is also explaining about different theories when it comes to development stages in the children’s drawings and how the culture, tradition and conventions influence both the pictorial grammar and the ideal image. The study is based on drawings collected in schools in The Gambia and Senegal and the drawings are analysed with the help of theories in Karin Aronssons “Barns världar – barns bilder”. The study is also based on observations and interviews with children and teachers in a school in the Gambia.