Visual RhetoricBy: Katie Davis

http://www.texascollaborative.org/BoerckerModule/resources.php

Author:

Laura Boercker (2007)

Audience:

• Who is the audience?• I think that the author

is trying to persuade the animal lovers to help the cause to stop animal cruelty. Also this might affect the people who are being cruel to their animals.

Subject Matter:

• What is the main subject of the photo?

• The treatment and cruelty of animals. If people do not take care of their animals and help the cause then this could happen more often.

Continued..

• What’s going on in the photograph? And what evidence is there for it?

• An abused and mistreated dog is laying dead on the floor. The evidence is the pool of blood that is surrounding it.

Continued..

• Why do you think that the author chose to write words on the picture? What affect does this have?

• I think it bring out the point even further by reinforcing the main idea.

Visual Elements:

• Does the light seem natural or artificial? Why do you think the photographer did this?

• I think the light is artificial so that the light would capture the blood on the floor and so that it darken the background so the viewer wouldn’t lose attention.

Focus:

• Are some parts of the picture out of focus?

• I think that there are some areas out of focus. For example: The foreground is the only thing we can see. I think the author did this so that the viewer wouldn’t get distracted by the background. And focus on the main idea.

Framing:

• What has the photographer left out of the image? Why?

• The dogs head and face. I think the author did this so that it would make the viewer focus more on the main point and not the one dog itself.

Contrast:

• Is there any visual contrasts?

• Yes, the image is dark besides the two main subjects. The white dog provides a contrast and the color of the blood stands out.

Logos:

• What does the photo make you think about?

• It makes me think about the extremes some pet owners will go to. It appeals to the logic of the viewer by making them decide to help the cause and support PETA.

Ethos:

• Does the photograph come from a reliable source?

• Yes, PETA does many advertisements around the world. They are a well know organization and a trustworthy source.

Pathos:

• How does the image make you feel?

• The image makes me feel disappointed and sad at first. Then I feel anger by the way the author set up the picture showing graphic images that make you upset on purpose.

Bibliography:

• http://www.texascollaborative.org/BoerckerModule/PETA-Ad.jpg

• Dog Advertisement. PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals). July 2007. Web. 20 Sept. 2010.