Rhetorical Analysis of an Image
While we tend to think of texts being only the written word, much like this document, this is actually not the case. Rather, a text is any symbol used to communicate an idea to an audience. Thus, there are many and various mediums through which a text can communicate. For instance, a simplistic version of a text can be something like a hand gesture or facial expression. Though these texts are performances and thus, as you learned in the Foss reading, are rhetorical acts, these gesture communicate an idea and are texts nonetheless. In light of this, and in the hopes of fostering more creativity, I want you to locate an image related to your topic that you have chosen to work with throughout the semester, and I want you to perform a rhetorical analysis of the image. You cannot be successful on this assignment if you have not completed the assigned readings and work in this module.
The Aim
Your aim in this assignment is simple: analyze the rhetorical elements and their effectiveness in an image you select that is related to your chosen topic. You will need to uncover the motives, purpose, audience, author, appeals to audience, and may other rhetorical elements of the text in order to make your argument about the rhetorical effectiveness of the image as a text and rhetorical artifact.
Specific Assignment Requirements:
While it will be difficult to quote an image in order for your to support your analysis, you will need to support your claims about the image by using your powers of description and explanation. If there is written text accompanying the image, you may certainly quote it, but you will need to cite the quotes. In either case, you will need to include an MLA works cited page at the end of the essay: see PURDUE OWL for more on creating citations for works cited pages. I would also like for you to include a copy of the image at the end of the essay after the works cited page. A bulleted list of requirements follows:
• 1,000 words minimum and MLA formatted from identifying info and page heading to in-text citations and works cited page
• Must analyze an image
• Analysis must be on rhetorical grounds; that is, you must look at the effectiveness of the rhetorical elements
• Must make an overall claim about the effectiveness of the image and its underlying purpose
• Must support your claims with evidence form the text (image)
• Image must be related to your chosen topic for semester and may be a magazine ad, newspaper image, billboard image, etc.