Visual Argument Essay

A curvy woman, clad in a tight black dress revealing porcelain skin, her hair is down and in her hand, between her slender fingers, dangles a cigarette, or death stick, as is portrayed by the actual advertisement. An image of this sort is immediately formed in an onlookers mind upon seeing the actual advertisement which simply depicts red lipstick and full lips that begins to create a sex appeal before being marred by the black cigarette burn in the corner of the upturned lips. Society has demarcated what sort of woman is now defined as sexy or attractive and in illustrating so clearly a cigarette burn on an intended to be appealing woman, the advertisement is attempting to portray smoking as having a negative effect on one’s physical appeal; specifically women’s. Therefore, a stereotype is revealed that, supposedly, smoking makes women less attractive. The main purpose of the advertisement is to persuade viewers not to smoke; it is a refutation against smoking and succeeds in revealing the negative effects of smoking on women in today’s society. Although the advertisement is successful in raising awareness about the damaging effects of smoking, it unfairly targets women creating an inaccurate stereotype about those who smoke and raises a logical fallacy in implying that smoking will make one less attractive, in order to convey the intended argument against smoking. The advertisement is successful in demonstrating the harmful ways in which smoking can physically affect people. The black and red colors on the ad symbolize black scarred innards, or even lungs, that are charred due to smoking; the advertisement then opens ones imagination up to what else smoking is rotting. Also one breathes through their mouth at times and the ad further implies unfavorable effects of smoking by creating a relationship between the quality of oxygen one’s body intakes when smoking and the black hole burnt into the lips. In the article, “Health Guide” the author states that lips can