InstructionsBefore doing this assignment, read the lesson on Visual Rhetoric and the Sample Visual Analysis given above. For this assignment, write a 1 -2 page (300-600 words) visual analysis of the

Analyzing Media

For general information on critical analysis, please see the “Writing Critical Analysis Essays” handout.

Media analyses often use rhetorical analysis and literary analysis concepts. See the “Analyzing Rhetoric” and “Analyzing Literature” handouts to review language associated with these concepts. It also makes use of two other types of analysis:

• visual analysis

• cultural analysis.

When analyzing an image for its visual elements, consider the following questions.

• What people, animals or objects are present? How does their body language, facial expressions, physical features and clothing (or lack of it) affect the attitude or tone of the visual?

• How do the following visual elements establish tone, attitude, and focus?

Color – Are the colors bright are dull? Do they represent something else? For instance, yellow could represent happiness.

Lighting – What parts of the image are in the light? What parts are in the shade? How does the lighting influence what the viewer focuses on? Does the lighting suggest a particular mood?

Placement – Are some items in more prominent positions than others? If so, what might be the reason for this?

Size – How is size use to show what is important?

Repetition – Are some elements repeated? What is the effect of this repetition?

Contrast – What colors, lighting, or other elements contrast sharply with each other? How does the contrast set the mood or the focus?

• What part(s) of the image is most important? What techniques are used to indicate its importance? Do other parts of the image “point” to the main part? (line)

Source: http://machoarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Funny+Print+Ads+22.jpg

The ad contrasts unattractive endangered animals and attractive endangered animals to make the argument that people need to care about both. A panda mask attached to a large fish is the focus of the ad. The mask has strong contrasting colors: black and white. Furthermore, a school of fish surround the masked fish, and form a circle that draws the viewer’s eyes to the panda’s face.

Last updated on 8/02/2018 www.richlandcollege.edu/englishcorner