Language and Composition, 2011

Analyzing Visual Texts or How to Sell a Swagger Wagon

Audience: For whom is the text created?Purpose: Why is the text created?Main Idea: What is the message of the text?Supporting Details: How does the designer develop his/her main idea?

For every text, you must know

How are the appeals (ethos, logos, pathos) used through color, font, image, layout/design, symbols, etc?How are the appeals used in the language of the text? What is the underlying message of the text?

Beyond the Basics

AudienceClass

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Age

PurposeWhat is the media trying to persuade the audience to do? To believe? To purchase?

HOW do they do it?

Allstate Mayhem

Main Idea / Underlying Message

Some may be obvious, like “buy this product’

Others are more subtle such as representing women as objects or depicting a teenager based with brash behavior to reinforce stereotypes and connect those with brands

How to make this

Seem like this

A peculiar situation . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4

1. What’s the main idea?2. How is this idea supported?3. Who is the intended audience?

How does this video appeal to them?

4. What is the purpose of this video?5. What is the underlying message?

The Challenge