Rhetorical Elements in Visuals
A picture is worth a thousand words, and possibly more. This statement has value because of the use
of visual elements such as color, text, and framing, as well as the rhetorical elements of ethos, pathos,
and logos. Three pictures that express these elements were taken at the Women’s March this year as
well as last year. These pictures are still relevant today because women in America fight for their
rights and the opportunity to be given respect as seen in the trending hashtags, #MeToo and #TimesUp.
The audience for all three pictures are women of all ages, religions, and races as well as any man who
wants to listen to the opinions of these women who fight for their rights. The use of various visual and
rhetorical elements in these three photographs adds strength to the argument that women’s voices
deserve to be heard.
and logos. Three pictures that express these elements were taken at the Women’s March this year as
well as last year. These pictures are still relevant today because women in America fight for their
rights and the opportunity to be given respect as seen in the trending hashtags, #MeToo and #TimesUp.
The audience for all three pictures are women of all ages, religions, and races as well as any man who
wants to listen to the opinions of these women who fight for their rights. The use of various visual and
rhetorical elements in these three photographs adds strength to the argument that women’s voices
deserve to be heard.
Image one: A young girl participating in this year’s Women’s March in New York City on January
20, 2018 with a sign that reads, “Future President #GirlsCanChangeTheWorld.”
20, 2018 with a sign that reads, “Future President #GirlsCanChangeTheWorld.”
The first picture is of a young girl who is participating in the Women’s March on January 20, 2018
in New York City. The purpose of this visual is to show that little girls everywhere have incredible
dreams for the future and they should be given the opportunity to pursue those dreams to change the
world. The fact that this young girl is at a march and her photo was taken causes her credibility to
become more prominent, representing ethos. People may be more inclined to listen to her opinion
since her photograph ended up on the internet. Since the girl in the photograph is a child, pathos
represents itself in her innocence. She is standing alone in a crowd full of people, holding her
inspirational sign up. Pathos also represents itself in the use of text on her sign which reads,
“Future President #GirlsCanChangeTheWorld,” by conveying the emotion of hope and pride.
She brings up the fact that she and other young people are the future. Viewers may feel obligated
to give her the opportunity to become the President in the future. There are many aspects that a
photographer must look for to get the perfect shot. The focal point of this image is the little girl
holding up her sign and standing by herself in the crowd of marchers that make up the background.
One of the women in the background looks down at the young girl with a prideful smile on her face.
The source of most of the color that makes up the picture is the little girl herself. Her blue coat,
pink hat, blonde hair, and colorful sign stand out in an ocean of women with darker hair and more
neutral color coats. This picture seems as if it was taken in the heat of the moment. Blurred in the
foreground is a person with a camera. She seems to be facing it, knowing that she is either on film
or getting her picture taken. The photographer of this picture took that opportunity to get his or her
own shot of the girl. This young girl was one of the many people protesting for the encouragement
of women and girls everywhere.
in New York City. The purpose of this visual is to show that little girls everywhere have incredible
dreams for the future and they should be given the opportunity to pursue those dreams to change the
world. The fact that this young girl is at a march and her photo was taken causes her credibility to
become more prominent, representing ethos. People may be more inclined to listen to her opinion
since her photograph ended up on the internet. Since the girl in the photograph is a child, pathos
represents itself in her innocence. She is standing alone in a crowd full of people, holding her
inspirational sign up. Pathos also represents itself in the use of text on her sign which reads,
“Future President #GirlsCanChangeTheWorld,” by conveying the emotion of hope and pride.
She brings up the fact that she and other young people are the future. Viewers may feel obligated
to give her the opportunity to become the President in the future. There are many aspects that a
photographer must look for to get the perfect shot. The focal point of this image is the little girl
holding up her sign and standing by herself in the crowd of marchers that make up the background.
One of the women in the background looks down at the young girl with a prideful smile on her face.
The source of most of the color that makes up the picture is the little girl herself. Her blue coat,
pink hat, blonde hair, and colorful sign stand out in an ocean of women with darker hair and more
neutral color coats. This picture seems as if it was taken in the heat of the moment. Blurred in the
foreground is a person with a camera. She seems to be facing it, knowing that she is either on film
or getting her picture taken. The photographer of this picture took that opportunity to get his or her
own shot of the girl. This young girl was one of the many people protesting for the encouragement
of women and girls everywhere.
Image two: The crowd of one million people participating in the Women’s March in Washington
D.C. on January 21, 2017.
D.C. on January 21, 2017.
The day after President Trump’s Inauguration, one million people marched down the streets of
Washington D.C. protesting for the rights of women. This second picture captures a moment from
that march. The purpose of this visual was to capture the vast amount of people that took the initiative
to make posters and come to the nation’s capital to march for something they believe in. Every person
has a different opinion that brought them there to march. According to an article written by Nadia
Khomami, Nicola Slawson, and Amber Jamieson for The Guardian, “protestors wore pink pussyhats
as crowds poured into the streets of downtown D.C., easily outnumbering those attending the
inauguration.” The pink hats that can be seen being worn by some protestors, were inspired by a
2005 statement President Trump made on an “Access Hollywood tape about groping unsuspecting
women,” according to Kristen Jordan Shamus, writer for the Detroit Free Press. All the text in the
image is represented by the marcher’s signs. The black poster in the very front reads, “I am female,
hear me roar.” This statement describes the motivation that almost every women in this picture felt
to bring themselves to D.C. and march down the streets with other women and supporting men at
their sides. Pathos represents itself in the large turnout of the too often silenced crowd voicing their
opinions and the inspirational sayings written on their posters. If one looked closely at the picture to
see the people’s faces, pathos would be found in the many different layers of emotion. Some marchers
are expressing anger, while others express prideful passion. Some posters play on the emotion of
onlookers. One protestor brought forth the fact that the United States was founded by immigrants
with the poster that reads, “Weren’t your ancestors immigrants too?” A picture of Princess Leia, a
character from the movie Star Wars, is found on another poster with the words, “A woman’s place
is in the resistance,” based on Leia being apart of the organization called the Resistance that fights
against the Empire in the movie. This poster reflects pathos because people who understand the
context of that poster may agree with it and may feel obligated to join the march. Logos is represented
with some of the messages on the protestors’ posters as well. One poster reads the quote, “‘Feminism
is the political notion that women are human beings,’” which represents one of the many reasons why
people felt to need to participate in the Women’s March. Another poster plays on the idea that we are
all one, no matter our race, gender, or religion. This poster reads, “Human Registry: Birthplace: Earth,
Race: Human, Politics: Freedom, Religion: Love.” Another rhetorical element, ethos, is represented
with the official and professionally displayed posters in the crowd that do not look like someone made
them at home, or if they did, are a parody of actual pictures. There are a few credible posters in the
crowd; for example, an anti-Trump poster that resembles an actual campaign poster but instead dons
the word, “nope” at the bottom. There is also a poster that reads, “no grabbing any time,” that
resembles a no loitering sign that can be found outside of businesses. Another poster reads
“Reproductive freedom for all. Trust Women” from the NARAL Pro-Choice America organization.
The photographer took this picture in the heat of the moment as people marched down the streets of
Washington. No one posed with their posters or froze in their place for the photographer to take this.
This photograph is framed to make the Capitol Building be directly in the center of the photo’s
background, allowing it to be the focal point. With one glance, the viewer can see where the picture
was taken. The photographer could have taken this picture from another angle but it would not display
the same effect that it does with the one million people marching on the nation’s capital. Since this
picture was taken in the middle of winter, the trees have no leaves on them and nature itself is not
giving off many colors. The Capitol Building stands in the back with made of its white stone and
the only color that brightens the street up daily is the American flags hanging on the light posts.
The marchers portray most of the color in the picture with their pink hats and colorful signs. Within
that sea of one million protestors, there are other young girls with encouraging messages.
Washington D.C. protesting for the rights of women. This second picture captures a moment from
that march. The purpose of this visual was to capture the vast amount of people that took the initiative
to make posters and come to the nation’s capital to march for something they believe in. Every person
has a different opinion that brought them there to march. According to an article written by Nadia
Khomami, Nicola Slawson, and Amber Jamieson for The Guardian, “protestors wore pink pussyhats
as crowds poured into the streets of downtown D.C., easily outnumbering those attending the
inauguration.” The pink hats that can be seen being worn by some protestors, were inspired by a
2005 statement President Trump made on an “Access Hollywood tape about groping unsuspecting
women,” according to Kristen Jordan Shamus, writer for the Detroit Free Press. All the text in the
image is represented by the marcher’s signs. The black poster in the very front reads, “I am female,
hear me roar.” This statement describes the motivation that almost every women in this picture felt
to bring themselves to D.C. and march down the streets with other women and supporting men at
their sides. Pathos represents itself in the large turnout of the too often silenced crowd voicing their
opinions and the inspirational sayings written on their posters. If one looked closely at the picture to
see the people’s faces, pathos would be found in the many different layers of emotion. Some marchers
are expressing anger, while others express prideful passion. Some posters play on the emotion of
onlookers. One protestor brought forth the fact that the United States was founded by immigrants
with the poster that reads, “Weren’t your ancestors immigrants too?” A picture of Princess Leia, a
character from the movie Star Wars, is found on another poster with the words, “A woman’s place
is in the resistance,” based on Leia being apart of the organization called the Resistance that fights
against the Empire in the movie. This poster reflects pathos because people who understand the
context of that poster may agree with it and may feel obligated to join the march. Logos is represented
with some of the messages on the protestors’ posters as well. One poster reads the quote, “‘Feminism
is the political notion that women are human beings,’” which represents one of the many reasons why
people felt to need to participate in the Women’s March. Another poster plays on the idea that we are
all one, no matter our race, gender, or religion. This poster reads, “Human Registry: Birthplace: Earth,
Race: Human, Politics: Freedom, Religion: Love.” Another rhetorical element, ethos, is represented
with the official and professionally displayed posters in the crowd that do not look like someone made
them at home, or if they did, are a parody of actual pictures. There are a few credible posters in the
crowd; for example, an anti-Trump poster that resembles an actual campaign poster but instead dons
the word, “nope” at the bottom. There is also a poster that reads, “no grabbing any time,” that
resembles a no loitering sign that can be found outside of businesses. Another poster reads
“Reproductive freedom for all. Trust Women” from the NARAL Pro-Choice America organization.
The photographer took this picture in the heat of the moment as people marched down the streets of
Washington. No one posed with their posters or froze in their place for the photographer to take this.
This photograph is framed to make the Capitol Building be directly in the center of the photo’s
background, allowing it to be the focal point. With one glance, the viewer can see where the picture
was taken. The photographer could have taken this picture from another angle but it would not display
the same effect that it does with the one million people marching on the nation’s capital. Since this
picture was taken in the middle of winter, the trees have no leaves on them and nature itself is not
giving off many colors. The Capitol Building stands in the back with made of its white stone and
the only color that brightens the street up daily is the American flags hanging on the light posts.
The marchers portray most of the color in the picture with their pink hats and colorful signs. Within
that sea of one million protestors, there are other young girls with encouraging messages.
Image three: Three young girls pose with their inspirational posters at the Women’s March on January
21, 2017.
21, 2017.
The three young girls in the third picture are a small representation of the one million people that
walked the streets of Washington D.C. on that chilly January day just after President Trump’s
Inauguration in 2017 during the Women’s March. The purpose of this image is to show that anything
that will affect women today will affect young girls in the future. Also, this picture shows that those
participating in the march were not just adults, but children who care about their future as well. This
image represents pathos because the three children are symbols of innocence, the future, and morality.
The two handmade posters on the left and right sides have positive messages about the future, “The
future is female,” and “Lead a good life to little girls.” Logos is represented with the girl in the middle
who holds a poster that says, “Don’t assume I cook.” This is a powerful statement that fights the
stereotype of women ‘belonging in the kitchen’ and being the caretakers of the family and house.
Similar to the first picture, ethos is represented here because these girls are at a march and their
picture ended up on the internet causing their credibility to sky rocket. As seen in the other pictures,
this photographer took many methods into consideration. This photograph is a close up, posed picture
of the three girls holding their signs above their heads. The picture is framed so that the three girls take
up the entire picture, empathizing their viewpoints. The message is not those around them, it is the
three girls themselves and their representation of the future. Since the girl with the “Don’t assume I
cook” poster is in the middle and the viewer’s eye is directed to the middle of the picture, she and
her poster make up the focal point. In the background, there are other participants of the march behind
the three girls. The use of color is evident from the sign with the color in the background being
positioned in the middle while the other two with white backgrounds, that were obviously made
by hand, are positioned on either side of the colorful one. The elements that the photographer used
for this picture improved the argument these young girls were determined to make.
walked the streets of Washington D.C. on that chilly January day just after President Trump’s
Inauguration in 2017 during the Women’s March. The purpose of this image is to show that anything
that will affect women today will affect young girls in the future. Also, this picture shows that those
participating in the march were not just adults, but children who care about their future as well. This
image represents pathos because the three children are symbols of innocence, the future, and morality.
The two handmade posters on the left and right sides have positive messages about the future, “The
future is female,” and “Lead a good life to little girls.” Logos is represented with the girl in the middle
who holds a poster that says, “Don’t assume I cook.” This is a powerful statement that fights the
stereotype of women ‘belonging in the kitchen’ and being the caretakers of the family and house.
Similar to the first picture, ethos is represented here because these girls are at a march and their
picture ended up on the internet causing their credibility to sky rocket. As seen in the other pictures,
this photographer took many methods into consideration. This photograph is a close up, posed picture
of the three girls holding their signs above their heads. The picture is framed so that the three girls take
up the entire picture, empathizing their viewpoints. The message is not those around them, it is the
three girls themselves and their representation of the future. Since the girl with the “Don’t assume I
cook” poster is in the middle and the viewer’s eye is directed to the middle of the picture, she and
her poster make up the focal point. In the background, there are other participants of the march behind
the three girls. The use of color is evident from the sign with the color in the background being
positioned in the middle while the other two with white backgrounds, that were obviously made
by hand, are positioned on either side of the colorful one. The elements that the photographer used
for this picture improved the argument these young girls were determined to make.
Rhetorical and visual elements have the ability to make or break an argument. They can add strength
when used correctly and can weaken or keep an argument stagnant when not used at all. These three
images from the Women’s March use rhetorical elements such as ethos, pathos, and logos to strengthen
the argument that women deserve rights as well. These photographs also use visual elements such as
framing the scene, choosing the correct focal point, the use of contrast and color, and the use of text
to make this argument clear to the viewer. One can learn much about a photographer's vision and the
argument one is trying to make when analyzing rhetorical elements brought forth in photographs.
when used correctly and can weaken or keep an argument stagnant when not used at all. These three
images from the Women’s March use rhetorical elements such as ethos, pathos, and logos to strengthen
the argument that women deserve rights as well. These photographs also use visual elements such as
framing the scene, choosing the correct focal point, the use of contrast and color, and the use of text
to make this argument clear to the viewer. One can learn much about a photographer's vision and the
argument one is trying to make when analyzing rhetorical elements brought forth in photographs.
Works Cited
Khomami, Nadia, et al. “Women's March Events Take Place in Washington and around the World
– as It Happened.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 21 Jan. 2017,
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/live/2017/jan/21/womens-march-on-washington-and-other-anti-
trump-protests-around-the-world-live-coverage.
– as It Happened.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 21 Jan. 2017,
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/live/2017/jan/21/womens-march-on-washington-and-other-anti-
trump-protests-around-the-world-live-coverage.
Pinson, Laurel. “Hear From 11 Women with Opposing Views at Trump's Inauguration and the
Women's March.” Glamour, Glamour Magazine, 15 Jan. 2018, www.glamour.com/story/we-spoke-
with-women-at-both-trumps-inauguration-and-the-womens-marchand-this-is-what-they-want-you-to
-know.
Women's March.” Glamour, Glamour Magazine, 15 Jan. 2018, www.glamour.com/story/we-spoke-
with-women-at-both-trumps-inauguration-and-the-womens-marchand-this-is-what-they-want-you-to
-know.
Rousseau, Morgan. “New York Women's March 2018: Photos.” Metro US, 20 Jan. 2018,
www.metro.us/news/local-news/new-york/nyc-womens-march-2018-photos-and-updates.
www.metro.us/news/local-news/new-york/nyc-womens-march-2018-photos-and-updates.
Shamus, Kristen Jordan. “Pink Pussyhats: The Reason Feminists Are Ditching Them.”
Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press, 12 Jan. 2018, www.freep.com/story/news/2018/01/10/
pink-pussyhats-feminists-hats-womens-march/1013630001/.
Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press, 12 Jan. 2018, www.freep.com/story/news/2018/01/10/
pink-pussyhats-feminists-hats-womens-march/1013630001/.
Hello Mary, I found your essay to be incredibly expressive. I loved the ways in which you described each of the photographs, as well as the different techniques and variables the photographer used to create such powerful images.
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