Visual rhetoric is a framework that describes the way in which visual images are conveyed with a sense of rhetoric. The quote "a picture is worth a thousand words" is extremely true in the context of visual rhetoric. Visuals strike much deeper in our psyches than many believe. Recent studies have shown that visuals aid in memory and and understanding of different concepts. For instance a study conducted at the University of Minnesota, found that individuals who use visuals in their arguments are 43% more persuasive that those who don't.
Visual rhetoric in propaganda became extremely present during World War I and II as a method to boost the moral at home, get more citizens to volunteer, and overall, as a way to build support for the war. However, propaganda is present in all aspects of our society even today.
Visual rhetoric in propaganda became extremely present during World War I and II as a method to boost the moral at home, get more citizens to volunteer, and overall, as a way to build support for the war. However, propaganda is present in all aspects of our society even today.
For example, these visuals all come from different time periods, yet they provoke essential thoughts that the photographer wished to provoke. Much like written or spoken rhetoric visuals rely on a tone to convey their purpose to viewers. However, visuals also must rely on visual rhetorical strategies as well. Visual rhetoric relies on color, emotion, and layout. These three aspects allow the piece to come across as the creator had hoped. For example, the image on the far right, a polar bear clinging to a melting ice cap. The polar bear is the only focal point in the photograph causing it to be the one thing to immediately grab attention. There are no distractions and the bear looks alone, and scared. While we can usually tell that these images all serve a certain purpose, such as in the polar bears case, raising awareness for climate change, the photo provides a certain aspect of emotion that is sometimes difficult to convey through writing.