Visual Rhetoric

I don’t think  I have ever thought of the huge influence visual rhetoric has on my life. It is so present in so many situations, which is very intriguing. And I think it is becoming even more prevalent in our world today. There are so many up rising ways that people are expressing their views and opinions. For instance facebook and instagram create such a unrealistic view of peoples images. I think of times where I have noticed the visual rhetoric in my life, or when I use it personally. Of course my style of clothing choice comes to mind. I would say I care of how I portray myself. I want to look professional in certain situations yet still fashionable. I think the reason I care of fashion for myself is because I notice it in other people. I enjoy seeing others express themselves through their clothing choices. It can say so much about someone.

This past summer I was able to spend a month in Europe. I traveled most thoroughly through Italy, France and Germany. I noticed so much visual rhetoric while I was there that I didn’t even realize it. The way the people were able to express their feelings through their art and architecture is amazing. We visited so many museums where I saw so much art by so many different artists. The Louvre was such an extraordinary experience, as I witnessed art expression through the centuries was incredible.  It amazed me how different peoples ideas and artwork can be.

In high school I was able to take AP art and there I learned many of these concepts. I had so many friends that were so unique with how they sent out their image. What I loved most about it all was that their artwork and outfits portrayed who they were so well. I also think of photography. By different angles, so many people are able to see things to differently which I just love.

I also think of music, although it is not necessarily “visual” with the attention on Taylor Swifts new music video (that my roommates just made me watch) I think that is also an interesting concept of rhetoric.

I am so impressed with the ways people are able to express themselves in such a beautiful manner. Everyone is so unique but I love that we can all write, speak and show visually how different we are.

Visual Rhetoric

Jenna Sutherland

WRTG 150

December 5, 2014

Visual Rhetoric (EC Blog Post)

            As we have learned this semester, rhetoric is the art of persuasion, and it is often found in literature. However, rhetoric is found in other aspects of life outside of writing. One example of this is visual appeal. There are many ways in which individuals and organizations use visual rhetoric to either make a statement, draw attention to, or express themselves.

            The most obvious of these examples is the way we dress. We dress differently for different activities, such as going to a sporting event, interview, or Christmas party. The way that we choose to represent ourselves in each of these situations will have a weighty influence on how our audience will initially perceive our character. As cliché would say, first impressions make a statement that often sticks!

            In addition to the way we dress, individuals (myself included) use visual rhetoric almost daily on social media. We create profiles for ourselves on sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In the case of Instagram, the pictures that we choose to post often are pre-contemplated and posted for a specific purpose. Whether this purpose is to share beliefs, experiences, or life events, the person posting the photo is in control of what their followers/the “public” sees. Because most individuals choose to post the positive aspects of their life, their profile is often a partially false—or rather, unrealistic—representation of what their life truly consists of. However, it is persuasive to their target audience (followers; they clearly “like” what they see because they continue to follow that specific person.

On the flip side, Instagram and other social media sites can become constrictive when focused too much on the persuasion aspect of visual rhetoric. I know individuals who are obsessed with gaining “followers” and who do ridiculous things in order to get more people to follow them. However, in gaining these followers, they are learning/discovering the art of visual rhetoric.

The last aspect of visual rhetoric that I see most commonly in my life is that of advertisements on the internet and other sites. They have a specific target audience, and they base their designs on what that specific group is most likely to relate to. Visual rhetoric is everywhere, and is important to understand and be aware of in order to use it most effectively.

Visual Rhetoric

Visual rhetoric is an interesting topic I had never thought much about before, and I didn’t realize how much I use it in my everyday life. The most common way I use visual rhetoric in my everyday life is by the way I dress. When I dress, I try to look fashionable, neat and clean. I care about my image. I don’t like to stand out though, and most of the clothes in my closet are darker or more neutral colors. Everything I put on is sending a message to people. When I see other people’s clothes, sometimes it is easy to see their personality.

Another way I use visual rhetoric is through social media. I don’t post too often, but when I do, it is usually about some fun activity I’ve done with my family or friends.

As I was sitting writing this, I noticed on my wall and my desk I have a ton of pictures hanging up. I think that this is a type of visual rhetoric, even though not many see it.  If people saw it, it would show them a lot about what is important to me. Most of what is hanging up on my wall is pictures of my family. Pictures are a way to show what can’t be expressed in words, especially with emotions. One picture can express what might take hundreds of words to explain.  

Visual rhetoric is definitely an important thing to be aware of and learn how to use. If you learn how to use it correctly, it can become a useful tool in your everyday life, especially with business. People buy or pick things out based on its looks. If you want to sell something, it needs to look good. Take books, for instance. When I go pick out a book to read at the library, I notice how a book looks. I usually walk through the isles, and if the picture or color stands out to me, I pick it up and then read the back to see if I’m interested in it. I’ve heard a million times, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but that is exactly what I do (only with books though). Most of the time, if the cover doesn’t look very interesting, I’m not as inclined to read it. It is the same with movies, websites, electronics, etc. If it doesn’t ‘look’ right, most people won’t bother with it.

Visual Rhetoric

Visual rhetoric is constantly being used. Any pictures, videos, actions and even body language can be visual rhetoric. Visual rhetoric is often more effective when combined with language.  I think the type of visual rhetoric I use most often would be body language. My roommates know the puppy dog eyes expression I make when I am trying to convince them to make an ice cream run. I post on social media to convince my followers that I actually do fun things. I wear nice clothing to please my mother. I smile at those I like. I employ sarcasm constantly and my body language can give context to my tone and words.  Everyone does things to affect other’s perceptions. People buy fancy cars to give others the impression that they are wealthy or a sign of status. Print and TV advertisements combine the use of visual and written rhetoric.  Some of these things I do consciously and some are unconscious. I am also influenced by visual rhetoric. I am new to this whole living on my own thing and I am greatly influenced by the designs on foods in the grocery store. Bright bold colors and pictures of delightful looking food always catches my eye. I am way more likely to buy anything at attracts me. Recipe books always have beautifully staged heaping plates of the recipe. These pictures influence my meal choices. However after I cook the recipe and my food comes out not looking so great I am less likely to make it again. The media understands the power of visual rhetoric and uses it to their advantages. Stark images of violence and destruction stir emotions that words do not. The ASPCA commercials with the sad, abused puppies are a prime example of this. This is an important part of visual rhetoric; it is easier to compare. Visual rhetoric is incredibly useful and important to be aware of. We all use rhetoric constantly even without knowing it. I think that it is important that we become more aware of the influences in our lives and how we influence others. Most people are aware of written rhetoric, but visual rhetoric can affect us even without our knowledge. As we look for these influences we become a more informed people and can make educated decisions. Visual rhetoric is used in society everywhere, on web pages, commercials, advertisements and in the media. We should learn to be aware of how we are influenced by visual rhetoric. 

So that's what they call that!

For nearly 22 years (probably more like 17 if I'm being honest) I've been dressing myself without even realizing I was composing an argument. Next thing I know, along comes this "Visual Rhetoric" concept and I discover that all this time I've actually been trying to persuade people to see me in a certain way based on the way I put my pants on: one leg at a time.

Jokes aside, visual rhetoric is all over the place! I intentionally don't where really expensive clothes, not just because I don't want to spend the money, but because I don't want anyone I associate with to think I'm too vain. At the same time I wear short sleeve t-shirts because I want people to know I excercise regularly. I keep a relatively short haircut because I want to project neatness (I get it cut every three weeks) and I want to look more mature. I bought whitening toothpaste because I want that huge orifice on my face to look clean and not just smell clean! (Two years in England doesn't wash off so easily.)

I don't just apply visual-rhetorical principals to my manner of dress and grooming, it makes up the way I act. I smile to show that I'm friendly, I make funny faces and engage in impromptu physical humor to show I'm easygoing and lighthearted. I look people in the eye to tell them I'm interested in what they're saying or avoid eye contact showing that I feel shy.

I use visual rhetoric in other areas as well! I clean my apartment when I have guests because I want to persuade them I'm not a slob. I keep my door open to let people passing know I'm available for interaction. All of these things are conscious efforts to send a message and persuade others to think about or respond to me in a certain way.

These ideas are useful, but perhaps the value of understanding visual rhetoric is in seeing how others are using it. If I wasn't aware of visual rhetoric I might not realize that my politicians only wear nice suits so I'll think they're credible and professional and my fast food restaurants have pictures of scrumptious fake food on their menus so Ill buy their less delicious real food. Rhetoric is everywhere, and if you don't know its there it might just be used against you; persuading you to do things you shouldn't, buy things you don't need, or believe things that aren't true. By learning to recognize visual rhetoric we can recognize these traps before we fall into them, and where this rhetoric is utilized for positive purposes, appreciate it for the creativity and wit that goes into it.

Visual Rhetoric

There are many different ways we as humans use visual rhetoric in our day to day life. We use it to determine one's true feelings by their body language, and in choices we make concerning advertisements. Those are the two I want to focus on.

Body language can tell a lot about a person. While some people are brutally honest, in most cases people hide their true feelings. We can't know a person's true feelings from their words alone because they are able to craft them and to deceive with them. But when we observe a person's body language we can discern many of their thoughts. When a person is bored or they dislike something, they tend to lean away from the speaker, gaze around the room, and have their arms folded. They aren't open to the conversation. But when a person is entertained or pleased with the speaker, they lean closer in, maintain eye contact, and have a more open position towards them. We can also use our own body language to show others what we want them to know. This is just one of the ways visual rhetoric is used in our lives each day.

The other way we use visual rhetoric daily is by the way we're persuaded. Advertisements we see on the television, on the computer, and around the places we go each day have been made carefully to persuade us. The styles and effects used to create the ad are there to please the eye and make us more likely to buy the product. This is also used in fliers that we see around campus. They have been made to make us want to go to the event. Using the definition C.R.A.P. (color, repetition, alignment, and proximity) for the design, the ads are much more effective at persuading us. 

I think that visual rhetoric is a very useful technique to know, whether it be for deciphering others thoughts, making your own thoughts known, or persuading people visual rhetoric is a great method to use. It's very important to also be aware of it, and how people use it on you. That way we can be less likely to be persuaded by the pretty design of some ad and instead decide for ourselves what we need or want. Being aware of the visual rhetoric that is used in our lives is a simple, yet effective, way to to convince someone, and I think everyone should come to this knowledge.

Visual Rhetoric

            Visual rhetoric is a part of our everyday lives. Whether we know it or not, the way we dress is a way in which we represent ourselves. Rhetoric in writing is the “language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience”. Just like writing, visual rhetoric through the way we dress has an “impressive effect on its audience”. No matter what we are wearing, people around us (our audience) will gather information and interpret what we are like. Are you tidy, organized, artistic, creative, sporty? Having knowledge of visual rhetoric and knowing what we are saying through our clothes and appearance is important. For instance, if you were to go to your brother or sister’s wedding, you would not just show up in an old stained t-shirt and ripped up jeans. That sounds like a nightmare! Why? Because the way you present yourself is important. Proper dress shows respect to who you are with and says a lot about who you are as a person.

            There are all sorts of different clothing for a reason. Dresses, suites and tuxes are for special occasions when it is important to impress who you are with and/or show signs of respect. You may need to wear them for interviews, weddings, dances and other important events. Jeans and a t-shirt are for occasions that are more laid back and do not require the same degree of professionalism. Choosing the right attire is important to understand because it has an effect on its audience. As much as we would like to think first impressions should not determine you fully as a person, it often does. Poorly written papers that do not grab their audience’s attention often do not get a second chance. Our dress and appearance is often the same way. If we do not impress an employer, for example, we often do not get a second chance. By understanding what we are saying through our dress, we will be able to represent our abilities, personality and show signs of respect in a short amount of time.

            Not only does the type of attire say a lot about us as a person, but so does the color of our dress. For example, my brother is an intern at Goldman Sachs. At this prestigious financial business, the color of your tie and suit says a lot about who you are and your rank in the company. As an intern, there is an unsaid code that prohibits him from wearing dark colored suits and power-colored ties. To show professionalism and signs of respect for his superiors, he does not wear an expensive black suite and a red tie because he has not earned that right and status.

            In conclusion, understanding visual rhetoric is important because it is a part of our everyday lives. It helps us say the right things about ourselves and shows others a little bit of our personality in a matter of moments. 

Visual Rhetoric

Extra Credit Blog Post

Meg Kelly

            Using visual rhetoric is apart of everyday life, and is can be useful to recognize the role that it plays. For me, I use visual rhetoric every time I get dressed in the morning when I put on an outfit that I would like to represent myself in. I put on clothes that people can take me seriously in, and that I can respect myself in. It can be challenging to find what clothes accurately represent one, and it is a process that one has to go through in order to find a unique style.

Another way I use visual rhetoric is shown in the way I organize my schoolwork. I want all my assignments to be visually pleasing, and this can happen when I am writing a paper or sorting my assignments. When writing a paper, I have to show rhetoric by either following a previously set guideline, such as MLA or APA. When I complete a paper the way a professor wants me to, I am using visual rhetoric to show that I understand the assignment and take the instructions that are given seriously. When I am not given a writing format that I need to stick to, then I have to be sure to format my paper in a way that is presentable and organized, once again showing that I am taking the assignment given seriously. When organizing my schoolwork, I use visual rhetoric by making sure I have a place for all my assignments, and that those assignments are in their place. This example benefits me more than anyone, because it allows me to find my assignments easier, and gives me a peace of mind that I know were everything is.

When I am in my dorm room, my use of visual rhetoric is ever present when I look at my walls, bed, and desk. I use visual rhetoric in these places by keeping everything organized and clean, and on the walls I have used visual rhetoric by putting pictures and posters up, and by arranging them in a way that is pleasing to the eye. When I do this I am calmer because everything is neat, and I am happier because I enjoy looking at the things on my wall.

Visual rhetoric is an important thing to practice and be aware of. By using visual rhetoric in our everyday lives, we are able to present ourselves in a positive manner, become more organized, and develop a peace of mind. If we can learn to use visual rhetoric effectively, then it will be beneficial in the way others perceive us, and the way we feel about ourselves.

Visual Rhetoric (Extra Credit)

                Visual rhetoric is used much more than we recognize.  Most notably, it is used in dress, appearance and mannerisms.  Developing skills to recognize and understand these rhetorical devices come with time and experience.  Most commonly, however, come naturally as an innate ability.  The knack to understand and read a person based on their visual rhetoric is a very valuable skill in many facets of the world.  From situations in relationships to business ventures, understanding the feelings of others is a necessary part of life.  By picking up and paying particular attention to clues given in visual gestures this can be used as a great strength in many aspects of human experience.

                As an LDS missionary, understanding visual rhetoric was essential to success – and to avoiding awkward situations.  Typically, within the first three seconds of introducing ourselves to people we could determine their interest level.  This was particularly important because of our time restraints.  In the business world, salespeople are taught to sell to those who are either favorable or impartial toward the product or service while ignoring those who are unfavorable or hostile toward the business.  Although missionaries are not instructed to ignore any of God’s children, similar principles apply.  Those who convey soft, inviting mannerisms are typically more humble and willing to accept the gospel.  In opposition to this, those with a rugged appearance are usually less likely to listen to the message.  This tactic is not always flawless, and singular second judgments do not always turn out to be true, but it is an effective way to decipher the initial feelings and reactions of others toward the message and the messenger.
               I recognized this most pointedly during my mission when we were authorized to teach via Skype and Facebook.  At first, we were overwhelmed with the excitement surrounding the possibilities of teaching people worldwide.  Eventually, we became very frustrated with the lack of success we were seeing online.  Due to the lack of visual rhetoric, it was difficult to know what to testify of during lessons over instant messaging.  During Skype lessons, there was a small lag time in between our comments and their response which became problematic due to our dependence on the reaction of the investigator.  Some are better at hiding their emotions than others, but it is human nature to react at least briefly in the instant that we hear or learn or something noteworthy.  Visual rhetoric is a large part of human life and can greatly impact the way that we interact and treat others.

Extra-Credit: Visual Rhetoric

Visual rhetoric not only allows you to express a persuasive opinion via photos or videos but it helps you capture your audience attention at a much faster rate. I do believe that visual rhetoric is something to be aware of. I would agree that learning it would be great as well but considering how many people are constantly blogging or on some sort of social media, I’m pretty positive they already invest in making visual rhetoric without even realizing it.

I like most typical girls keep some sort of social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and a blog. I believe that my personal blog displays most of my visual rhetoric. On my blog I tend to post a lot about my personal life, photos, and/or videos that exemplify the life I live. It is through my blog that one can get a true genuine sense of who I am as a person. Though I try my hardest to keep my blog updated it’s getting a bit more difficult to do with school and finals.

Moreover, I also use visual rhetoric by the way I dress. Most days (key word here being most) I try to dress girly and nice—by dressing well I feel like I send off the message that I am a girl who is well put together and tends to have things correctly organized. While other days I will wear jeans and a hoodie due to the fact that I either slept in or did not want to put effort in how I look. The way one dresses or presents themselves shows not only their mood but also how they feel about themselves. For example when dress real bummy (sweats, hoddie, hair up with no make-up) probably will mean I’m having a bad day and that I do not feel good. These are the days to avoid me haha. In all seriousness though, I believe that we send out some sort of visual rhetoric about ourselves/our lives through the way we dress and what we post on social media each day. Therefore, visual rhetoric is very important for our every day life.