Visual Rhetoric
Brittany Mitchell
Dr. Brown
English 1102
Reflective Essay
The ten images I have chosen for this project all portray different types of power. I
believe that these images can be way more effective on displaying power rather than words;
especially in todays society where our world revolves around pictures and images. Power is
very important in todays world. Without power nothing would be accomplished. Power is
behind every major event that happens and creates progress in our world. Power is what
drives us all to become better and more advanced as human beings. This topic of power was
chosen as a focus to reiterate how important power is to us as a society. Everyone is always
trying to be more powerful than the next person. I discovered during this assignment that
power lies behind everything whether it is for good or bad. Power motivates us to try and
move forward in the world whether we realize it or not.
When looking at the pictures I have chosen I wish for my audience to see the
different types of power that we currently have in the world. There is the literal power,
presidential power, money power, and bravery. One graphic that was personally involving to
me was the picture of the power button. This picture symbolizes that without technology our
world would be filled with darkness. As a society we all rely on technology to survive in
everyday life. Another picture that was personally involving was the military picture. The men
in this picture show so such strength and bravery and without people like that who knows
where we would be today as a country.
The image that was most helpful to me in learning more about power
was the picture of all of the money. When I was little I remember my grandpa
saying that power always follows where the money is. Meaning that whoever has
all the money has the power. It now all makes sense to me considering how
expensive everything is today and the things people are willing to do to get some
money for themselves or families.
The part that benefitted me the most for understanding the image itself
was the morph. This is because to change the picture into something else I truly
had to understand the true meaning of the picture. This was also my favorite part
of the project because I had to think outside the box to think of something creative
to come up with while keeping the content and message of the image still there.
Overall this project really taught me all about the different types of power
and how they all contribute to our lives today, whether in a physical or economical
standpoint. This project opened my eyes that there are different types of power
and how they are all different. I definitely enjoyed this project.
Picture #1
Image Title: The White House
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "January 2014: Photo of the Day." The White House. The
White House, 13 Jan. 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-
video/photogallery/january-2014-photo-day>.
Topic: This is a picture of President Obama in the White House.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): photograph
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for the white house
Why Select This Image? The White House demonstrates power and authority.
What Does This Image State About Power? The White House controls a lot of the power in
the US and this picture helps demonstrate that.
Why Do You State So? The White House make up a lot of laws, rules, and regulations for
the people living in the US. This picture shows President Obama doing something important
that is involving paperwork and this could very well be important to the regular citizens.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates one source of power through the president..
Trace
Text- This is a picture. What is unique and special is that it is a picture of our current
president, Obama. It shows him in the middle of making some sort of important decision
with paperwork and an employee.
Reader- The intended audience could be for many different groups. It could be for the
media if this was dealing with a very important decision. It could even be a simple picture
to show students on how the president works. Yes, I can be a part of the intended
audience because I am a student. The author for this picture is unknown. No, I am not
open to change by this text.
Author- The author to this text is unknown.
Constraints- The limitations for this author is that he or she is prompted to make the
president look good in front of the camera for the media. For the reader is lets him or her
only see the good side of what goes on in the White House. You can tell because the
picture is so well put together and everything looks efficient.
Exigence- I do not believe that there is an argument going on in the picture except for
the fact that the photographer believes that the president is very powerful and deserves
to be shown that way.
Picture #2
Image Title: Life with Power
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Theres Power in You!" DavidEmpowermentcom RSS.
Tazzdaddy, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://www.tazzdaddy.com/davids-blog/theres-power-in-
you/>.
Topic: This picture symbolizes power and without it we would have darkness.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): graphic
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): persuasive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for power button
Why Select This Image? Without technology there would literally be no power.
What Does This Image State About Power? Without power the picture would be dark, just
like in the world. The unknown author is inferring that in our world today if we had no power
then everything would be filled with darkness.
Why Do You State So? If the world had no power then there would always be darkness.
Also in the image if the power button was taken out then the picture would just be dark and
black.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates how the world needs power and technology to survive in todays society.
Trace
Text- This is a graphic picture. What is unique and special is that it is just a simple
picture of a power button in the middle and darkness is all around it.
Reader- The intended audience could be for society as a whole. Yes, I am a part of this
intended audience because I am a part of society that relies on technology to survive.
The author to the graphic is unknown. No, as a a reader I am not open to change
because I already rely on technology to survive.
Author- The author to this text is unknown.
Constraints- The limitations and characteristics for this author is that he or she is
portraying that without technology then our world would be filled with darkness. He or
she shows this by without the power button in the middle of the picture lighting up then
the whole picture would be black.
Exigence- The authors involvement in this picture is that he or she firmly believes that
we are a society that greatly relies on technology in order to survive and without it our
world would be filled with great darkness.
Picture #3
Image Title: Its All About the Money
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Reports." Opensecrets RSS. Open Secrets, 24 Jan.
2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/moneytrail.php>.
Topic: This picture shows a lot of money.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): photograph
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for money
Why Select This Image? Whoever has money has all the power.
What Does This Image State About Power? The people who have money can control
other people. Especially people who are willing to do almost anything for some more money,
whether it is for their families or themselves.
Why Do You State So? If you control money then people will do what you say to get money.
They look up to you because in a way you control their future.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates how money controls people.
Morph #1
Picture #4
Image Title: Knowledge is Power
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Hacking Knowledge: 77 Ways to Learn Faster, Deeper,
and Better." OEDBorg. Open Education Database, 30 Nov. 2006. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/hacking-knowledge/>.
Topic: This picture shows how knowledge is power.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): graphic
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): persuasive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for knowledge
Why Select This Image? I chose this image because knowledge is power.
What Does This Image State About Power? If you have knowledge then you have power.
Sometimes being knowledgeable is one the most important traits you can have. It can save
you from making bad decisions and ruining your life.
Why Do You State So? If you are smart then you have a better understanding of what is
going on around you and that is powerful.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates how being smart is powerful and this a different source of power.
Morph #2
Picture #5
Image Title: Windmill
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Buy into Wind Power!" Windmill. Annie Green Trees, 15
Aug. 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://anniegreenjeans.com/tag/windmill/>.
Topic: This picture demonstrates a physical type of power.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): photograph
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for windmills
Why Select This Image? Windmills are one way that we supply power.
What Does This Image State About Power? Windmills generate actual power and that is
needed for everyday life.
Why Do You State So? Windmills supply electrical power and without them we would not be
able to do some of our daily functions. Having actual electrical power is another source of
power.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates windmills supplying power and how this is another source of power.
Picture #6
Image Title: Police Badge
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Department of Defense Police." Wikipedia. Wikimedia
Foundation, 30 Jan. 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Defense_police>.
Topic: This picture symbolizes the importance in police men.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): photograph
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for police badge
Why Select This Image? Policemen are a symbol of power.
What Does This Image State About Power? Policemen have authority over civilians. They
protect us from the bad people in the world. Having this type of power is very admirable and
brave.
Why Do You State So? They have control over people. Also they have to risk their lives
everyday to protect the normal civilians.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates the power policemen have in society.
Picture #7
Image Title: Fireman Saving Lives
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Fireman Logo." Fireman Logo. Logos.co, n.d. Web. 05
Feb. 2014. <http://logos.co/designs/fireman-logo>.
Topic: This picture symbolizes the importance in firemen.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): cartoon
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for fireman
Why Select This Image? Firemen are a symbol of power.
What Does This Image State About Power? Firemen have the ability to save lives each
and every day. They risk their own lives just to save another.
Why Do You State So? The ability to save lives is very powerful.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates the power and respect firemen have.
Picture #8
Image Title: Military (Go USA)
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "God Morning To You." God Morning To You RSS. Good
Morning To You, 25 Feb. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://godmorningtoyou.com/its-military-
monday/>.
Topic: This picture shows the strength our military has.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): photograph
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for military
Why Select This Image? The military is a symbol of power.
What Does This Image State About Power? The military protect our country. Without them
who knows where our country would be today. They risk their own life every day for a county
they love.
Why Do You State So? The ability to protect our country and be so selfless is very powerful.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates the power and enforcement the military has and how this is another source of
power.
Trace #3 Extra Credit
Text- This is a photograph. What is unique and special is that it is a picture of our military
in the middle of combat.
Reader- The intended audience could be for our society to show how good of a job our
military is doing. It could also be to intimidate other countries by showing how strong an
tough we look. Yes, I can be a part of this intended audience because this picture can be
a reassuring picture to show us that our countrys military is looking stronger than ever.
The author to this picture is unknown. After seeing this picture it actually does reassure
me that our military looks very strong and brave.
Author- The author to this text is unknown.
Constraints- The limitations and characteristics for this author is that he or she is
portraying that our military looks like they are ready to take on anything that comes there
way. Now this may or not be true but the photographer sure wants us to believe that.
Exigence- The authors involvement in this picture is that he or she firmly believes that
our military is as tough and as brave as they come. We have nothing to worry about
when it comes to war and that we are ready for anything and everything
Picture #9
Image Title: Small but Powerful Gun
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Weapons." Best Wallpapers. SantaBanta.com, n.d. Web.
05 Feb. 2014. <http://www.santabanta.com/wallpapers/weapons/55/?order=s>.
Topic: This picture is a picture of a powerful gun.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): photograph
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for a gun
Why Select This Image? A gun can symbolize power.
What Does This Image State About Power? A person who has a gun and uses it can be
seen as a threat and therefore can gain power. If someone came up to you with a gun to your
head you would do pretty much anything he or she says just so they will not shoot you.
Why Do You State So? No one wants to die so they will do anything they have to to stay
alive. The person with gun is very powerful because he or she basically has control over that
other person.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image
demonstrates how having a gun can be a very powerful thing.
Picture #10
Image Title: Technology
Bibliographic Citation: Unknown. "Technology." Technology. Tanscel, 2012. Web. 05 Feb.
2014. <http://www.transcel.com/Technology.aspx>.
Topic: This picture symbolizes technology.
Image Sub-Genre (chart, graphic, diagram, cartoon, photograph, etc.): photograph
Mode (informative, persuasive, argumentative, expressive/entertaining): expressive
Found Where: Google
Found How: searching for technology
Why Select This Image? Having technology is power.
What Does This Image State About Power? A society with technology is way more
powerful than a society without technology..
Why Do You State So? Being able to use technology to your advantage is powerful. It
makes you a much more advanced society because you able to do so much more with
technology.
How Does This Image Fit With The Others In Your Collection (if at all)? This image just
demonstrates how using technology is powerful.
Sticky Notes
Peer Review
Bibliography
Unknown. "January 2014: Photo of the Day." The White House. The White House, 13
Jan. 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-
video/photogallery/january-2014-photo-day>.
Unknown. "Theres Power in You!" DavidEmpowermentcom RSS. Tazzdaddy, n.d.
Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://www.tazzdaddy.com/davids-blog/theres-power-in-you/>.
Unknown. "Reports." Opensecrets RSS. Open Secrets, 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 05 Feb.
2014. <http://www.opensecrets.org/news/reports/moneytrail.php>.
Unknown. "Hacking Knowledge: 77 Ways to Learn Faster, Deeper, and Better."
OEDBorg. Open Education Database, 30 Nov. 2006. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/hacking-knowledge/>.
Unknown."Buy into Wind Power!" Windmill. Annie Green Trees, 15 Aug. 2012. Web. 05
Feb. 2014. <http://anniegreenjeans.com/tag/windmill/>.
Unknown. "Department of Defense Police." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Jan.
2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Defense_police>.
Unknown. "Fireman Logo." Fireman Logo. Logos.co, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://logos.co/designs/fireman-logo>.
Unknown. "God Morning To You." God Morning To You RSS. Good Morning To You, 25
Feb. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://godmorningtoyou.com/its-military-monday/>.
Unknown. "Weapons." Best Wallpapers. SantaBanta.com, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.santabanta.com/wallpapers/weapons/55/?order=s>.
Unknown. "Technology." Technology. Tanscel, 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
<http://www.transcel.com/Technology.aspx>.
