Deadline #7- HW#3- Rhetoric on the Town- Flow

Citation: [Untitled templates for a cruise]. Retrieved on February 21, 2012 from: http://www.cruiseagents.com/images/pres/creative_center.jpg

Rhetorical Analysis: Here we have four templates for planning a cruise. They are not advertisements because if you look closely, you can see that there is no information listed about the website or phone number in order to contact the cruise company. These are simply templates for any travel agency or cruise company that wants to advertise a cruise. The primary audience of this would be the customers who are planning on purchasing tickets to go on a cruise. The different images from all around the world tell me that the audience has to be people who like to go to many places around the world to travel. They would also have to have a higher income than most because cruise ships are not cheap to go on. A secondary audience of this image could be the agencies and companies interested in using these templates to advertise. One of the purposes of these images is to entice the primary audience to go on a vacation. I can tell this because of the phrases such as “Want to get away?” and “The tropics are calling”.

Design element analysis: These four images all have very good flow. When it comes to the purpose of these images, flow allows the reader to establish in what order to read the text and view the images. Our text states that good verbal flow is established when readers are able to read the text from top left to the bottom right. All of the phrases in these images begin with the first word or words in the top left and flow to the bottom right. For example, “The tropics are…” begins in the top left and flows down to the word “calling”. There are also consistent typefaces, colors, and sizes used between the headlines where it says “Your Name- Accreditation” and the subheads like “Your phone number- Toll free number”. Another way to enhance verbal flow that was stated in our text is to keep listed items together and this is shown because all of the information regarding phone numbers, website, etc is all listed together. These are all ways to enhance good verbal flow. Finally, visual flow is established depending on the way the images are turned. They are all pointing towards the right, such as the cruise ship. This makes the information on the page move naturally. By using verbal flow with the biggest phrases on these images, customers are more likely to find out information about the cruise because it caught their attention.

Deadline #6- HW#3- Rhetoric on the Town Assignment- Repetition

Citation: [Untitled advertisement for Pepsi] Retrieved on February, 13, 2012. Retrieved from http://blog.monty.de/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/pepsi_can.jpg

Rhetorical Analysis: The purpose of this advertisement is to make the audience aware of the different kinds of products that Pepsi has. The audience in this case would have to be people that like to drink Pepsi. Only they would be interested in looking at this ad as opposed to somebody who likes to drink Coke or who does not like to drink caffeinated beverages. This image is  prompting the audience to go out and try the three different kinds of Pepsi that they have. Of course they also have Wild Cherry Pepsi and things like that but this ad has more to do with the original taste of Pepsi. Some people may have been unaware that there was a Pepsi that was not diet but had zero calories, carbs, or sugars, just like the Diet Pepsi. The Pepsi Max most likely has a very similar to taste to the original Pepsi and this will help the consumer audience to want to buy some and try it. The audience could be of any gender, occupation, and education as well. However, it may not be directed to children as most parents do not like to give their children soda pop, especially one with caffeine.

Design Element Analysis: This advertisement provides a simple example of repetition. As our text stated, repetition could be simply just repeating images throughout the page. It provides repetition of the image of the Pepsi soda can and the reflection of the soda cans, not just the cans. A couple of visual design principles are drawn from the gestalt theory to help show unity in this advertisement. The figure/ground principle is used because the figures in this case are the cans and the ground is the white background. The principle of proximity is also addressed because all the cans are located right next to each other which shows they are part of a group. Finally, similarity helps provide unity because the cans are all similar in size, shape, and proximity. The design strategy helps meet the purpose of the advertisement because repetition allows the reader to understand the message more clearly. In this case the audience was presented with three soda cans in close proximity to each other. The reader was able to quickly glance at the advertisement and still understand the message that they are being prompted to try to the different kinds of Pepsi. The repetition of the image most likely placed the image of Pepsi in the reader’s head, which in turn made them want to go buy a different kind of Pepsi they had not tried before or their favorite choice.

Deadline #5 HW#3- Rhetoric on the Town Assignment- Alignment

Citation: [Untitled advertisement for Vitamin Water]. Retrieved on February 6, 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/06/coca-cola-glaceau-ads-banned-asa

 

Rhetorical analysis: The purpose of this advertisement is to convince the audience to buy Vitamin Water. The general audience of this advertisement would be consumers who like to drink flavored water. Because of the phrase that states “More muscles than Brussels”, I would say that the specific audience for that part of the advertisement is people who like to work out. The second phrase, “Drink at the first crack of yawn”, is targeted to those people who are feeling tired. In this case, the yellow Vitamin Water would give them energy whenever they are feeling tired.  Finally the third phrase, “Keep perky when you’re feeling murky”, is targeted to those people who may not be having a good day or are feeling depressed. The advertisement is claiming that if you consume the Vitamin Water, then you will feel a lot more cheerful. Obviously, the phrase at the bottom that says “Try it” is evidence that the purpose of this ad is to get people to go out and buy Vitamin Water.

Design element analysis:  The first way that alignment is demonstrated in this advertisement is with text alignment. As you can see, all three sections have the text aligned using flush left. Our book states that flush left alignment allows the text to be very readable. It is also very possible that a grid was used to align all of the elements consistently. The top and bottom edges of each phrase align perfectly with each other. The images of the water bottles are also all aligned to the right and the same distance away from each other. There are also three columns with the same width, which is a common element that is used to make a grid. All of these alignment strategies help the reader process the information fast and easily. Because every element in this advertisement is aligned, the reader can easily follow the flow of information. This allows them to have less time reading the advertisement, and more time going out to buy the Vitamin Water.

Deadline #4- HW #3- Rhetoric on the Town- Balance

Citation: [Untitled advertisement for Nike]. Retrieved on January 30, 2012, from: http://amycavenaile.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/we-are-all-witnesses-lebron-james-nike-ad1.jpg

Rhetorical analysis: First off, the audience of this advertisement would most definitely have to be basketball fans or more specifically, basketball players. I can tell this based off the image because whoever is viewing the advertisement would have to know that the basketball player in the ad is Lebron James. Since he is considered to be an extremely good basketball player with a great athletic ability, this is probably why the statement at the top says “We are all witnesses”.  This is claiming that we, meaning the intended audience, are all witnesses to his skills and abilities on the court when watching him play.  I think that the audience would have to be basketball players because they are most likely to buy Nike shoes for the purpose of playing basketball. Since it is a professional male basketball player in the image, the intended audience would also have to be males who are most likely not very old because they would need to be in shape to be playing basketball still. The purpose of the advertisement is to get the audience to go out and purchase Nike shoes. I can tell this because the advertisement gives a link at the bottom which says “Believe at nikebasketball.com”. This means that the audience should believe that they can be great basketball players, like Lebron, if they purchase Nike shoes.

Design element analysis: The type of balance layout that was used in this advertisement is that of symmetrical layout. The phrase “We are all witnesses” is aligned in the center. If we were to draw an imaginary axis at the center of the advertisement like the examples in our book, we would be able to see that both the left and the right sides contain similar, almost identical, visual elements. Both of his arms are extended and this provides balance because one arm is on each side of the advertisement. Like the textbook stated, the image that is chosen reinforces the message in this advertisement. The text at the bottom of the advertisement on the left is symmetrically balanced with the Nike trademark symbol on the bottom right side. What is also good about this advertisement is that the visual weights are equally dispersed throughout the layout. The image has the most visual weight, followed by the writing above Lebron James, and then finally the lowest visual weight is held by the writing and Nike symbol on the bottom. The placement of the image at the bottom of the page preserves some of the unbroken space in the advertisement. The fact that most of the visual weight is focused on the image helps capture the audience’s attention because they see a big image of a professional male basketball player. This design strategy also helps meet the needs of the purpose since the advertisement is trying to get people to buy Nike shoes. Having a lot of visual weight on the image of a professional basketball player makes the audience want to go buy the shoes since they want to be just as good as he is at playing basketball. Since symmetrical balance was used, it gives the advertisement a more dignified and serious feel because the audience members will most likely be athletes that take playing basketball seriously, such as Lebron James does.

Deadline #3- HW# 3- Rhetoric on the Town Assignment- Contrast

Citation: [Untitled advertisement for Apple iPod]. Retrieved on January 23, 2012,  from: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KNKNrrvs9Es/TH-Di0tynKI/AAAAAAAAG6M/jQ8VauKNr7U/s1600/apple.jpg&w=570&h=383&ei=UeEdT9ehM6iciAKd4vnSCw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=122&sig=104350546938190479232&page=4&tbnh=148&tbnw=201&start=67&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:67&tx=67&ty=66

Rhetorical analysis: The purpose of the advertisement is to interest the audience to purchase an Apple iPod. The audience that is specific to this advertisement would be young females with a particular interest in rock and roll music. I assume this because of the sentence in the advertisement that says “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” The females are most likely outgoing, fun- loving, and music enthusiasts. The advertisement tells me this because of the female silhouette that is dancing. The image is prompting the readers to go out and buy an iPod so that they can listen to their rock and roll music anywhere and anytime. The fact that it is a small, compact, handheld item also expresses that the reader can be moving and doing activities, such as dancing, like the girl in the advertisement. The pink background also is a good indicator that the targeted audience of the image is females.

Design element analysis: This advertisement does a great job at demonstrating the design principle of contrast.  Clearly there is color contrast between three very different colors: blue, pink, and white. As stated in pg. 44 of our text, large areas of solid color can be pierced by geometric, textured shapes. We can see some textured shapes in the bright pink background. The blue silhouette does a very good at contrasting with the pink background. The iPod, which is the item being advertised here, is also contrasted in white. Since the color white makes it stand out against the rest of the colors, it serves as a focal point. In pg. 42 of our text it explains that without a focal point, viewers may miss the full message. The design element helped meet the needs of the audience because most young people are usually on the go. They don’t have time to read a long advertisement, so the fact that there was only one sentence was good. Also, since they live a fast paced life, the bright color contrast most likely catches their eye. The colors that were used were bright and youthful, and this definitely helps in attracting young females, who are the intended audience. Adding a dark silhouette that is dancing helps emphasize the purpose of the advertisement, which is going out to buy an iPod.

Deadline #2. HW #4 Rhetoric on the Town Assignment- Emphasis

Citation: [Untitled advertisement for Kit Kat]. Retrieved on January 12, 2012, from:http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zM394L-Hppg/Ta3iUay72gI/AAAAAAAAABM/3IOQ8yqbnwY/s1600/kit-kat_70s.jpg

 

Rhetorical analysis– The audience of this image would most likely be students and individuals who are in the workforce. The reason that I say this is because in the advertisement those look like dress shoes and pants that are resting on a stool of some kind.  They would probably have to be individuals who also have long work days such as full time college students that also work, as well as professional businessmen/women.  This indicates that the age group for the targeted audience would be anywhere from 20 to 45 years old. Not to mention, it is important that the audience members like chocolate seeing as this is an ad for Kit Kat chocolate candy.  The image in this advertisement is prompting the audience to take a break from work and enjoy a Kit Kat while relaxing for a couple of minutes. The audience members would also be prompted to go out and buy a Kit Kat bar on their work break, regardless of whether it is a fifteen minute break or an hour lunch break.

 

Design element analysis– The designed element of this week was emphasis. The image had very good visual hierarchy. The focal point to the audience is the image of the shoes in the center of the advertisement with the words Kit-Kat on the bottom of the soles. Then the accent in the image was the phrase “Have a break” at the top of the page.  Another specific strategy that was used was that the typeface was in bold and it was in large font. The words Kit Kat were the brightest in the ad because this is the product that is being pushed to the audience. The shoes on the stool helped meet the needs of the audience because it provided something they could relate to after being tired during a long day at work. The emphasis on the phrase “Have a break” allowed the audience to feel like they are worthy of indulging in a Kit Kat bar after working very hard. Overall, I think this ad demonstrated emphasis really well.