A Cog in the Writing Machine

From our reading last night there were MANY questions posted in the reading that helped the reader to analyze a visual argument - no matter what kind of visual argument, just as long as it was one.

Two of the questions that I really liked were:

What positive - or negative - feelings about individuals, scenes, or ideas does the ivsual intend to evoke in viewers?

and

What argumentative purpose does the visual text convey? What is it designed to convey?


These two questions really peaked my interest because when people see visuals - they react. No one really thinks beyond the reaction at all. Yeah, they may discuss it but are they even discussing why theyr'e discussing and what made them discuss it? Sure it was their reaction but what caused the reaction specifically? Nothing is done without a purpose when it comes to visuals - everything has a time and place. If it didn't a visual argument wuoldn't be as savvy and important as it is.

Honestly, these two questions delve further in to thinking about why a visual argument is made. Sure all the other questions do the same thing but these questions make the viewer/reader turn in on themselves and actually think about why this argument is saying what it is. Why is this visual the way it is? The creator could have easily changed the reaction by differing a couple of the visual aspects but they didn't - everything was for a purpose.

I also really love the first question because not all visual arguments are one or the other. What one visual could mean to one person, it could mean something completely different to another. Honestly - a picture of the flag of the United Confederate States = what does that invoke in you? Is it teh same as the person sitting next to you? How about five chairs down from you? What the creator intended and what you are feeling could be two completely different things.