Back+Cover



Dominating the back cover is a simulated image from a microscope. It evokes images of science and a laboratory through the circle bordering the image, which urges us to think about the unseen: bacteria, parasites, viruses, disease, etc. Human nature makes us fearful of unseen or unknown species, which allows this image or type of image to create anxiety within a consumer, depending on the context of the image and their visual knowledge of the image. It makes us wonder where these organisms came from, and if they came from the cow on the cover, then are they in our food? And if they are found in food, what harm will they do to the people who eat it?

A bright, blood red is used for the color of the organisms in this image. The color red generally can evoke feelings of anger or aggression, so I think it is no accident that these organisms are portrayed as red, and it also ties back to the red on the front cover giving a little continuity to two images which are otherwise very different in style. The details of the cow from the front cover are outlined in black, but these organisms are not. They appear to be an exaggeration of a view of the bacteria e coli (simply based on a brief Google image search for e coli under a microscope), but they are clearly an artist's interpretation rather than a real image of the bacteria. Many of the organisms are portrayed with tentacles (something that appears on some of the real bacteria as well), which are exaggerated to become reminiscent of spider legs or scary squid-like creatures from horror movies. If these organisms were to be drawn in the style of the cow head, and outlined in black, they would not evoke the idea that we are really looking at them through a microscope, and they would be more cartoonish and less fearsome. By displaying an artist's interpretation of the bacteria, they can be exaggerated for added creepiness as actual images of the bacteria might portray a more clinical, detached feel rather than the feeling that these organisms are dangerous creatures that will do us harm.

Additionally, this image is portrayed as almost the only thing on the black background of the back cover. All that accompanies it are the required image of the UPC and the publishing information which must be printed. There is no other text presented - no brief summary of the book, no glowing reviews from critics, nothing. This creates more curiosity in potential readers of this book. When they pick it up because the cover has attracted their attention, they must then open it at least far enough to view the inside flaps of the cover where the synopsis of the book is located.

Interpretation or understanding of the image will vary depending on familiarity with biological science and general education (probably). If I have a vague, general understanding of the microorganisms, I may not be able to recognize what I’m seeing, and this creates curiosity. If I have absolutely no understanding of biology, the image may confuse me, though the image still may invoke some fear (and therefore curiosity for what this book is about) just with the color of the organisms and their tentacles. If I have a large degree of biological knowledge, I may be able to specifically identify the microorganisms (if I'm correct and they are meant to depict real e coli bacteria) and know if they are threatening, providing further context to what I’m seeing.