Naomi Vanderley: Visual Rhetoric

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Naomi Vanderley “I pledge”

Ms. Sullivan
AP Language and Composition
12 November 2014 Visual Rhetoric Essay­ Choice 1
Visual rhetoric, as opposed to verbal rhetoric, conveys a message through the power of images instead of words. Not only the image itself, but all of its various elements­ color, motion, shapes, etc­ all amalgamate into a single unit in order to impart a potent idea to the image’s viewers. However, some of the most influential and powerful rhetoric is fashioned when both words and images are masterfully combined, as shown in image 1. This image is one of propaganda and is intended to encourage Americans to buy war bonds during World War II. This image of true patriotism tugs at American heart strings through its use of young children
endangered by the ominous Nazi threat. Therefore, visual rhetoric is rhetoric which transmits an important idea or thought through a picture or image, but can become an even more persuasive tool when coupled with words such as in image 1, which eloquently utilizes words and pictures in order to foster a patriotic call to action of the American people in opposition to the looming
Nazi threat.
Image 1 is a picture of American children standing in the middle of a looming shadow of the Nazi swastika. The swastika, however, has not yet physically touched these young children which is essentially the ultimate message of the image­ to prevent the Nazis from ever touching
Americans, specifically small and vulnerable children. The tone of this image could be described

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as somber, dreary, danger­impending, defensive and patriotic. The doll of the young girl, however, has been touched by the swastika and appears to be lifeless, as will presumably happen to the children if they are touched by the swastika. One of the boys in the image possesses a toy airplane in his hand, representative of those which were used in the WWII battles between Nazi
Germany and the Allied Powers. This same young boy wears a small sailor’s hat, representing the great support for the United States’ military in their warranted struggle against the abusive
Nazis. Likewise, the other young male child holds an American flag waving in the wind, the highest symbol of patriotism. This extremely American icon adds further credibility to this image
as
well.
This image of propaganda was constructed in the midst of the overwhelming World War
II.
During this period, many Americans feared the Nazi threat could somehow work its way into the backyard of the United States. This image serves the purpose of an advertisement for
Americans to purchase war bonds for the war effort. The US government was in great necessity of revenues in order to fund this highly costly conflict. Therefore, one can see the “speaker” or
“author” of this image in the government of the United States. Likewise, the audience or intended targets of this advertisement are any and all American citizens who could offer any type of monetary assistance towards helping the war effort. Finally, the subject of this image is quite clear, the Nazi threat could wander into the American backyard at any time, compromising the safety of American children. Consequently, war bonds are of the utmost importance if American victory in WWII is to be obtained.
The obvious and underlying visual and contextual aspects of this patriotic image of propaganda fuse in quite a unique and idiosyncratic manner.

This picture is masterfully

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able to evoke the deepest sentiments of American patriotism and nationalism from all sorts
of
Americans, both during the period of WWII and in our current day and age. The United States was able to engineer an impressive victory over brutal Nazi Germany through the adept utilization of fundraising techniques. Furthermore, this image manages to skillfully combine words along with pictures in order to generate the most persuasive advertisement possible.
Despite the overall ominous and looming tone of this image, its visual rhetoric is highly powerful and unleashes powerful emotions of patriotism and need to defend our loved ones from the evils of our world.
Therefore, visual rhetoric becomes highly useful when it integrates both words and pictures as exemplified in this picture of patriotism, which is an image which successfully employs a persuasive combination of both in order to gain the monetary support of the American people in exchange for protection against a looming Nazi threat. Each of the visual aspects of the picture represents its own unique message with respect to the war effort. Elements from the young girl’s doll to the boy’s waving American flag stir up in all of us deep feelings of patriotism and nationalistic pride. The American government successfully conveyed its need for revenue and funds to its intended audience, making victory for the Allied Powers all the easier.
Visual rhetoric is not always utilized to its highest potential, however, in this image, it could not have been used more effectively.