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.