Chapter 2 is all about the appeals of pathos in visual arguments. The deciding factor of what emotion the artist wants to target can get messy. There are several emotions an ad can target in order to make its message successful. Whether its humor, anger, sympathy, sadness, or arousal, one of these emotions relates us to the ad. Sometimes an argument without a picture can only take the viewer so far. But once a visual argument is added, emotions are now more intact with what they are reading about.

            Using Emotions to Sustain an Argument is a section in chapter that explains the struggles of hitting just the right amount emotion when using visual arguments. “The technique is tricky, however. Lay on too much emotion- especially those like outrage, pity, or shame, which make people uncomfortable- and you may offend the very audiences you hoped to convince” (46).

            My photo is an example of pathos because the photo evokes sympathy for the animal. Not only does you heart break when you see the look on the puppies face, but in addition the text on the side of the ad describes the typical day of the dog makes the reader feel sorry for the dog and want to take action. Also because the ad gives the name of the dog, it gives realization that the dog is not just a “random” and too needs a family.

Chapter 14 of Everything’s an Argument explains the power and emotion behind a single picture. We have all heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” which is exactly what the chapter explains into detail. When we look at a picture our eyes usually tend to focus on the big picture and what pops out first. Although given more time, we see the meaning, purpose, and emotion hidden within. Many different elements are used while creating an ad that deals with emotion. For example the colors, words, shapes and sizes that make up the picture.

The section of the chapter that stood out the most to me was The Power of Visual Arguments. Images we see on billboards, t-shirts, magazines, etc. influence our emotions. Visual arguments weren’t discovered on YouTube, MTV, or any of our social networking today. Visual arguments was founded in Egypt when pharaohs lined the banks of the Nile River with statues of themselves to set their authority and for the same reason, the Roman emperors had their portraits stamped on coins.

My visual argument had a double emotion to it. The first image to catch your eye is the World Trade Centers on 9/11. This ad immediately brings you back to the day you first witnessed the terrifying terrorist attack. Looking deeper into the picture you will notice a homeless person with his only belongings on the side of the bridge with a sign that say “HIV + Please Help”. That’s when the second emotion strikes. We do not realize how many people in our country and/or world whose lives are at risk due to HIV. The visual argument has the facts “ 2,863 people died- 40 millions infected by HIV around the world. The world unites against terrorism, we should unite against AIDS”. The visual argument is gaining our awareness and asking for our help to unite against AIDS and help the cause.  

About Me

My name is Caitlin Double and I am a freshman here at Arizona State University and live on campus at the San Pablo dorm. I am on the ASU club cheer team, which is a competitive that allows us to travel and compete in different states. I have been cheering for about 7 years now and love every minute of it. In my free time I love to go out or even just relax and watch a movie. My favorite movies are The Last Song, Dear John, Due Date, and Finding Nemo! My favorite TV show of all time is Friends, and my newest favorite show is Prison Break. I was born and raised here in Goodyear, Arizona where I lived in the same house my whole life. The first time I moved was when I left for summer bridge and lived in the dorms. I am a very outgoing and laid back person that’s just looking to have a good time and future. I am currently majoring in psychology, but switching it to Criminal Justice as soon as I can. I am not exactly sure what I want to do for the rest of my life, but by the classes I am taking, I am getting a pretty good idea.