VISUAL RHETORIC

By: Jewlee SneedPicture title: Red ShoesOrganization: Amnesty InternationalDate Published: March 2008

BACKGROUND

Founded in 1961, Amnesty International is a global movement that has the support of over 150 countries. The cause is to stop the abuse of human rights. The rights that all humans deserve is defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

A small child in an adult woman’s

heels.

A street corner with car lights

and a faint man walking by.

WHAT IS TRYING TO BE PORTRAYED?

The legs are of a small child. She’s standing on street corning in heels

that are made for a much older woman. I think that the young girl is in child

prostitution. The advertisement is against

child prostitution because Amnesty International is for

human rights and this girl is way to young to decide

that she wants to sell herself and is probably a

slave.

WHO IS THE AUDIENCE?

The audience can really be anyone.

Everyone knows that forcing a child to

preform actions that should be reserved for someone much older

is wrong. The advertisement is for anyone who will help the campaign against

child prostitution.

WHAT IS MISSING FROM THE PHOTO?

The girls body is the most obvious thing

that is missing. This is probably to generalize what types of girls are being forced. Where she is located is also

unknown. This is probably to also show

that this problem is not localized to one place; that is could happen

almost anywhere.

HOW DOES CROPPING OUT THE UNFITTED HEELS

CHANGE THE PICTURE?

If the heels look as if they fit the girl wearing them, then the audience does not infer that it is a child. This would just be an advertisement against prostitution.

WHAT ARE THE PROS & CONS OF THIS AD?

This ad shows that child

prostitution is still a problem that we must

face.

It also evokes a need to help the

young girl placed in this

situation.

The advertisement is

not very clear. Young girls who

are at risk of being forced into this situation are

not likely to understand the purpose, so it

does not serve as a very good

warning.

Pros: Cons:

JUXTAPOSITION

The juxtaposition in the

advertisement is the small feet and

legs of the child inside of the big

heels. This points out how much

older she should be to be ‘in those

shoes’.

PATHOSHow does this picture make you feel?

This picture gives me a feeling of despair for the girls that need our help. It also makes me happy that someone is addressing the problem so that it is hopefully fixed.

ETHOSWhy is the creator of this advertisement a credible source to listen to?

Amnesty International has been a reliable organization for over 50 years. They have helped a lot of people. The logo for Amnesty is also located in the top right corner.

LOGOSWhat is the logical appeal?Obviously, sex is reserved for those who willingly choose to do it. A child is not mature enough to make the decision whether she is ready to become sexually active or not. This audience knows all of this and the ad, with that information, shows the evil of forcing a child into prostitution. Also, prostitution is illegal at any age in America, so that just adds to how unacceptable it is.

WORKS CITED

• Amnesty International. “Red shoes.” Learn about human rights. Amnesty International. March 2008. Web. 15 November 2011.• Amnesty International. “About Amnesty

International.” Who We Are. n.d. Web. 15 November 2011.