Although pictures typically do not contain logos, Alan Taylor utilizes them in a way in which they do. How does Taylor appeal to our logic? Well throughout these pictures I found myself questioning whether the actions in them were logical, or made sense. For example, in picture #5 Ivory Ward sits in his car with a bullet hole on his windshield. To many, it does not make sense for the a man to shoot at peaceful people sitting in their car, so why should a white man be able to shoot at an African American. This is clearly an appeal to our innate logic. Additionally, within these pictures there is a plethora of textual evidence. In picture #3, children hold up signs that tell us segregation is wrong, which is an attempt to convince us with reason and logic. Furthermore, in picture #4 the klu klux klan holds out hateful signs, which tell "Negroes" to stay out. These signs go against logic, because why should African Americans be excluded. Why aren't white men excluded? To extend, multiple pictures of Martin Luther King Jr. are used, and he is an embodiment of reason and logic. In combination, all these pictures produce a strong appeal to logos, although not apparent at first.
- Kane Gui
I agree with the fact that when one first looks at an image it is hard to see the appeal to logos immediately; however, after a bit of time the logos becomes apparent. Often these images include universal symbols in order to make the viewers think a certain way. Like you mentioned the third image shows children holding up signs. I think the reason the photographer pictured this moment is to emphasize how important the issue of racial discrimination really is. In almost every country children are seen as symbols of the future. By picturing them holding such a powerful message the photographer is able to get the viewers to understand that if something is not done quickly the children (future generations) will also have to face these same burdens.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the usage of images in rhetoric, because of the simple nature of it, as well as Taylor's ability to add logic to it since they are normally used to spark emotional responses.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you analyzed the logos in the pictures. Usually, when I think logo, I think numbers and statistics. But as you mentioned, pictures can also easily appeal to our logos by making us question things.
ReplyDeleteI like how you brought up the idea of the signs going against logic, "because why should African Americans be excluded. Why aren't white men excluded?" I understand where you're coming from, however we have to understand that at a time that was logical. While it might not be logical to most of us now, it was in the 1960's and we can't exactly help that logic because we weren't there.
ReplyDelete"Innate logic" is something most people would not point out when talking about logos in these pictures. Without it blatantly being written out, most people would skip over logos and argue that there is none within these pictures. You were able to pinpoint the deeper meaning behind the expression, which is hard to do.
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