In my Visual Rhetoric assignment
for English 103, I learned and practiced a variety of skills which are great
for analyzing and identifying tactics which can be used to make an argument. I
found that analyzing context and target audience more enlightening aspects of
the paper. Now, I can appreciate the benefit of understanding just who you are
trying to convince and then use that understanding to say the words and make
the points that will make a difference to the audience. As for studying
context, it was new for me to actually point out the rhetorical argument which
the setting makes. Before, I would have been much more inclined to claim
context was obvious or inexplicable. Now, however, I see that context
particularly defines who the target audience is.
The
whole concept of logos and Pathos were (at least as far as pointing them out specifically)
new to me. The moods of the faces in an image can do just as much argumentally
than a page of text, explanations, and definitions. An emotional appeal is
probably the first, biggest thing which will catch and keep the audience’s
attention. It is then the explanations and reasons that will then satisfy and
validate the argument in its entirety. This is the part of rhetoric which gives
backbone and credibility. Ethos, on a separate note, seems to be based simply
in reputation and credibility. I would have guessed previously that ethos would
have something to do with the stability of the logical argument or with whether
the argument was ‘true’ or ‘right.’ Ethos is a particularly relevant aspect in
this day and age, where people will agree with others based simply on who they
are known as. Celebrity endorsements, likewise, are widespread because of the
effect Ethos has in an argument. I hope to address that aspect more in future
assignments.
