Visual Rhetoric By: Chandler Crawford

Background Information Adbusters is a magazine based in Canada, the purpose of Adbusters is to bring attention to the erosion of our physical and enviromental culture. Adbusters offers detailed articles as well as activist commentary from around the world addressing issues ranging from genetically modified foods to media concentration.

What is the purpose of this ad? The purpose of this ad is to bring attention to the fact that society is so involved in television that it becomes a part of them and indirectly the people around them. Notice that the eye is looking through the television. The child is looking at the world through the television. How do we see the world based off of what we’ve seen off television?

Who is the intended Audience? The intended audience is obviously people who watch television, however the words “she’s got your eyes” directs the image towards the parents. Parents directly influence the lives of their children and if the parent is so wrapped up in television then so will the child and it will become a part of who they are.

In today’s society we see things through television In today’s society we see things through television. We do not experience these things for ourselves and learn about life, however we sit at home and we watch other people live our life for us.

She’s got your eyes Notice the television, why is the television old?

The Television is older because it helps target the parents The Television is older because it helps target the parents. This television is the typical television that my generations parents probably had growing up. They never got to watch much television growing up so they’re more inclined to allow their child to do something they never got to do as a child. The television captivates the child and it becomes a part of the child’s life until they “cannot live without it.”

Ethical appeal What is the ethical appeal?

The ethical appeal of this photo is that the photo came from adbusters The ethical appeal of this photo is that the photo came from adbusters.org a Canadian magazine that has the sole purpose to bring attention to the decay of society.

Pathos How does this appeal to the audiences emotions?

The photo appeals to the audiences emotion by making the audience or the parents feel regret that they are allowing television to become a part of their child’s life. If I was a parent looking at this photo I would feel terrible that a child who has no idea how degrading this is to them and society is allowed to watch TV to the point it becomes a part of them. TV is a very bad thing in society.

Logos Logical appeal?

The logical appeal is obviously why would you want your child to have a television as an eye. For them to look through the eyes of television and to see the world through the TV and not experience life for themselves or ourselves.

Color Why is the eye blue?

The color blue represents sadness; the baby girl is trapped behind the television and will never be able to see life with her own eyes, but through the TV. instead.

Why the left eye?

The left eye is chosen to draw attention the sole eye, if both eyes were shown the image would not be as focused on that one eye and the message would not be as clear.

The eye A close up of the eye changes the audience to not to parents, but to everyone that lives life through their television.

Citations Mendes, Shannon. She's Got Your Eyes. 2011. Photograph. http://Adbusters.org/Web. 12 Oct 2012.