Discussion English

Understanding Visual Rhetoric: A simple beginning definition of visual rhetoric and its applications are as follows:

Use of images as argument

Arrangement of elements on a page

Use of typography (fonts, etc.)

• Analysis of existing images and visuals
• Assignment Instructions:
  1. Conduct an online search for relevant/controversial visuals (static or dynamic). Select at least 3.
  2. Reflect on the visuals you have selected and revised, then conduct a rhetorical analysis.
• Apply the following strategies: 
• 1. Describe/Observe

First, describe what you see in the visual quite literally. Begin by focusing on colors, shading, shapes, and font if you’re analyzing an advertisement. As you describe them, observe the texture, shape, contour, etc., of each element. For this initial stage, you are simply describing what you observe. Do not look deeper at this point.

2. Respond/Reflect

Next, respond to the ways in which the things you described have impacted you as a viewer. What emotions are evoked from the various shadings and colors in the image? If there are words present, what does the artist’s font selection do for the image? At this stage, you are questioning the elements used so that you may move to the final stage of analysis.

3. Analyze/Question

After you’ve described and reflected upon the various elements of the visual, question what you have noted and decide if there is an argument presented by the visual. This assessment should be made based on what you’ve observed and reflected upon in terms of the image’s content alone. Ask yourself if the arrangement of each item in the visual impacts the message. Could there be something more the creator wants you to gather from this visual besides the obvious? Question the criteria you established in your thesis and introduction to see if it holds up throughout your analysis. Now, you are ready to begin writing a visual rhetorical analysis of your selected image.