Visual rhetoric

Visual rhetoric is the fairly recent development of a theoretical framework describing how visual images communicate, as opposed to aural or verbal messages. The study of visual rhetoric is different from that of visual or graphic design, in that it emphasizes images as sensory expressions of cultural meaning, as opposed to purely aesthetic consideration (Kress and van Leeuwen 18




One of the example of visual rhetoric is STOP!!!! sign. well, here is the thing, usually when you drive a car you will always thinking of speed limit, school sign, stop sign and others. the way that government put all these sign is by using big and solid colour at the sign. that is how people aware about all the sign and visual rhetoric had been applied through this situation.




Good example of my everyday rhetorical examples came from my driving experience. Let me ask you, what’s the first thing comes in your mind when you see a STOP sign? You have to stop your car or you might get lucky that day to get a ticket from police officer? The stop sign is the Visual rhetoric. Are you kidding me? No. Guys, see how they made the sign. Logically; or in our term, the logos is the red color. Red is some kind of a warning-you-have-to-be-careful color. When you see it, you know you have to be more careful. What if they made it from purple or colorful with stripes? It is just not more than a funny sign, right? Well, the pathos could be seen how it affect the drivers, change the mood and how they react when they see the sign. Because they know what could happen if they don’t. It is a perfect seduction. Some kind of an invisible power manipulates you and seduces you to do what it wants. You can find it everywhere even when you are watching TV.