Journal: Cartoon analysis
Images once considered neutral reflections of reality
Can be laden with connotation
Can strategically omit facts, elements
Can employ elements that convey/effect meaning
How to Analyze Visual Arguments
What kind of information does the image convey? What is it intended to convey? Does the visual argument highlight particular information to attract viewer attention? How is the visual argument composed? What is your eye drawn to first? Why?
What is in the foreground / background? What is in or out of focus? What is placed high / low? What effect does all of this have?
How are light & color used? What effects do they have on the viewer?
What details are included / emphasized? Excluded / de-emphasized?
Do the visuals evoke positive or negative individual scenes or ideas?
1. What emotions does the image evoke? What does it intend to evoke?
2. What valuesor ideas does the argument suggest? Does the image reinforce or question those?
3. Is anything in the ad repeated, intensified or exaggerated? idealized?
4. Is anything rendered confusing or ambiguous?
5. What is the role of accompanying print? Does it clarify, reinforce, blur or contradict the image?