Visual Analysis Essay

Visual Analysis Essay Description:

This essay is a visual analysis assignment. You will describe, discuss, and analyze at least two (2) examples of visual images relating to your professional field, and reflect upon how the messages in the images are rhetorically communicated. Your discussion will bring focus to the explicit and implicit messages that images communicate and how they do so by appealing to ethos, pathos, and logos. You will conclude your discussion by reflecting upon how the assignment broadened your understanding of the use of rhetoric to convey meaning in visual messages, as well as how you have a deeper understanding of messages about your future field.

You may analyze any type of images, including the following:

Advertisements (print or billboard)
Public Service Announcements
Posters
Photographs
Illustrations
Company/Organization Home Page Images
Memes
Social Media Page Images
Other images (as long as approved by the instructor. No films and no inappropriate images are allowed. Please ask the instructor for feedback if you are in doubt.)

Purpose & Audience:

A written analysis allows writers to explore the discrete parts of something—in this case, visual artifacts—to better understand the whole and how it communicates its message.

We will consider how the image(s) appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos, and why. Consider, for example, how most advertisements rely on an appeal to pathos–or emotion–to persuade consumers to buy their project. Some ads will use humor to do so. Others will evoke patriotism (buying a product will make you a better citizen, etc.).

This particular analysis will allow you to focus on visual materials relating to your career of interest to better understand how messages related to your field are composed and presented.

Instructions:

Begin the essay by finding at least two examples of images (see the above list) relating to your intended field of study (or a field that you are interested in learning more about).

To write a visual analysis, you must look closely at a visual and translate your visual observations into written text. However, a visual analysis does not simply record your observations. It also makes a claim about the images. You will describe the images in detail and then offer an analysis of what the images communicate at the surface level. You will also highlight any implicit messages that the images communicate. (Use the Visual Analysis Planning Sheet).

Begin by taking detailed notes about the images. Review every component of each image. Be precise. Consider the composition, colors, textures, size, space, and other visual and material attributes of the images. Go beyond your first impressions. This should take some time—allow your eye to absorb the image. Making a sketch of the work can help you understand its visual logic.

Suggested Organization of Visual Analysis Essay

Introduction: should contain a hook (attention-grabber), set the context for the essay, and contain your thesis statement (described below).
1. Thesis statement: State what images are being analyzed and what about the images makes them effective or ineffective at communicating their message.
Explain the rhetorical situation of both images (you are basically summarizing the images for the reader):
1. Begin by discussing what is being advertised or displayed.
  1. Who made it (company, artist, writer, etc.)?
  2. Who is the target audience?
  3. Where and when the image was published and shared?
  4. Where the image was made (country)?

Discuss each image in full detail, providing the following details about both:
1. Describe what appears in the image (describe the images). Be as detailed as possible.
  1. Discuss the primary color choice used and what mood these colors create.
  2. Explain the overall layout and organization of each image.
  3. Discuss the use of wording in the visual image.
  4. Discuss what font is used, what color, and size of the font.
2. Explain what the message in the visual actually says and what this message means/indicates/asks of viewers and readers.
3. Discuss any additional relevant information (from the planning worksheet or anything you think is noteworthy).
Put together your findings, and analyze what you think the smaller details accomplish:
1. Discuss if the images appeal to ethos, pathos, or logos and provide evidence to back up your claim. In other words, how do they do this? Explain why/how and give examples from the visuals.
2. Discuss what sociological, political, economic, or cultural attitudes are indirectly reflected in the images. Back up your claims with evidence. For example: an advertisement may be about a pair of blue jeans but it might, indirectly, reflect such matters as sexism, alienation, stereotyped thinking, conformism, generational conflict, loneliness, elitism, and so on.
3. Discuss the goals of the images and if they are effective in attaining that goal.
Conclusion: Discuss the following in your conclusion:
1. Remind the reader if the images were effective or not and why. (Quick wrap-up).
2. Answer each of the following questions:
  1. What did the visuals communicate / show you about your future field?
  2. How has analyzing the images broadened your perspective on how ethos, logos, and pathos works in visuals?
  3. When analyzing visuals, did you notice the influences of ethos, logos, or pathos before this assignment? If not, do you notice these elements now? Where?
  4. Why is it important to be able to notice the influences of ethos, logos, and pathos in visuals?

Length: 3-5 pages, typed, double-spaced, with APA Version Seven Approved Font Choice and Size.: Arial 11, Calibri 11, Lucia Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, Georgia 11, and Computer Modern 10.

Style: APA Style

For help with drafting and revising your assignment, visit our Baker College Tutoring Services portal. Click on the link to make an appointment.

Rough Draft Requirements

At least 3 double-spaced pages in APA format, with APA Version Seven Approved Font Choice and Size.: Arial 11, Calibri 11, Lucia Sans Unicode 10, Times New Roman 12, Georgia 11, and Computer Modern 10.
Includes a Title and References page (referencing whichever 2 works you choose)
Follows the suggested organization as stated below
Includes a 1-paragraph introduction contains a hook (attention-grabber), sets the context for the essay, and contains your thesis statement that state what images are being analyzed and what about the images makes them effective or ineffective at communicating their message.
2nd -3rd paragraphs explain the rhetorical situation of both images (you are basically summarizing the images for the reader):
- Begin by discussing what is being advertised or displayed.
  - Who made it (company, artist, writer, etc.)?
  - Who is the target audience?
  - Where and when the image was published and shared?
  - Where the image was made (country)?

Discuss each image in full detail, providing the following details about both:
- Describe what appears in the image (describe the images). Be as detailed as possible.
  - Discuss the primary color choice used and what mood these colors create.
  - Explain the overall layout and organization of each image.
  - Discuss the use of wording in the visual image.
  - Discuss what font is used, what color, and size of the font.
- Explain what the message in the visual actually says and what this message means/indicates/asks of viewers and readers.
- Discuss any additional relevant information (from the planning worksheet or anything you think is noteworthy).
Put together your findings, and analyze what you think the smaller details accomplish:
- Discuss if the images appeal to ethos, pathos, or logos and provide evidence to back up your claim. In other words, how do they do this? Explain why/how and give examples from the visuals.
- Discuss what sociological, political, economic, or cultural attitudes are indirectly reflected in the images. Back up your claims with evidence. For example: an advertisement may be about a pair of blue jeans but it might, indirectly, reflect such matters as sexism, alienation, stereotyped thinking, conformism, generational conflict, loneliness, elitism, and so on.
- Discuss the goals of the images and if they are effective in attaining that goal.
Conclusion: Discuss the following in your conclusion:
- Remind the reader if the images were effective or not and why. (Quick wrap-up).
- Answer each of the following questions:
  - What did the visuals communicate / show you about your future field?
  - How has analyzing the images broadened your perspective on how ethos, logos, and pathos works in visuals?
  - When analyzing visuals, did you notice the influences of ethos, logos, or pathos before this assignment? If not, do you notice these elements now? Where?
  - Why is it important to be able to notice the influences of ethos, logos, and pathos in visuals?

Visual Analysis Essay