Most journeys regardless of their physical, emotional or even psychological nature present challenges and barriers which must be overcome before the goal or purpose behind the journey is reached. These challenges and barriers are both obstacles which we must surpass and signposts which mark the progress of our travels. They can take any form from physical tests of courage to psychological disorders that impede the journeyers from their paths. Kelleher's "The Ivory Trail" book cover and Atwood's "Journey into the interior" are two examples of this. Whilst both are different in form, they both depict the journey and its obstacles.
Victor Kelleher's "the Ivory Tower" book cover portrays a physical and imaginative journey into the sand dunes of Egypt. The book cover is composed of a number of visual images that have been collaged and faded into one another. The dominant colours in this text are bright orange and black.
English: Illustration for The Handmaid's Tale, a n...
English: Author Margaret Atwood attends a reading ...
Margaret Atwood Idea IdeaThe orange colour is used to reflect the colour of the desert as the sun is descending, it reflects the harsh climate and physical obstacles which the adventurers would expect to find in their journey. All colour fades into black at the corners, this is a very good technique which denotes the unknown. A crucial part of journey's is to venture into the unknown and exploring the depths of mystery, for this reason, the unknown is a challenge itself, one which the persona must conquer in order to reach his goals.
Kelleher uses visual symbolism to give the audience an image of the setting of the novel. The image of a sphinx is very effective since it is one of the most famous icons of Egypt. The Sand dunes which fades into most of the bottom half of the cover is also very reminiscent of Egypt and...