This document provides instructions for analyzing a photograph by Jonathan Bachman titled "Bachman, Ieshia Evans, Baton Rouge (2016)". Students are asked to select three rhetorical elements from a provided list and write three paragraphs analyzing how each element contributes to the overall meaning or message of the photograph. Additional context is provided about when and where the photo was taken, and that it was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize. Students are then given similar instructions to analyze a political advertisement, and to watch and take notes on the documentary film "Advertising and the End of the World" by Sut Jhally. A folder of additional images is also provided for future analysis.

1. 1.
Writing: Practice in Reading a Photograph
Attached Files:
Bachman, Ieshia Evans, Baton Rouge (2016).jpg
(277.283 KB)
For this assignment, you will practice analyzing how various
rhetorical elements contribute to the overall meaning of a visual
image--in this case, a photograph. To begin, click on the
attached image.
By way of some context, this photo was taken in 2016 at a
protest rally in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The woman in the
photo is named Ieshia Evans. The photographer is named
Jonathan Bachman. Bachman's photo, which was first published
by Reuters, was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in 2017. You can
use this information to do more research on the image, if you
like.
Now, review once again the Elements and Methods of Visual
Rhetoric document and select from it
three
elements that you wish to discuss in relation to this photo.
Please note that this is not a formal essay assignment, so do not
treat it as such. For example, you do not need to create a formal
introduction.
Begin by simply providing an
interpretive claim

2. --i.e., stating what you believe is the meaning or message of
Bachman's photo. Ideally, this should be just
one
sentence (tho you can write two if necessary). After that, your
document simply needs to contain
three paragraphs
, one for each rhetorical element you have selected. In each
paragraph, you need to explain fully how the particular element
contributes to the overall meaning or message of the image.
Note: Your assignment must be submitted as an attached .doc or
.docx file. Name your file correctly, using your last name and
brief description of assignment (e.g., Martinez,
Photograph.docx).
2.
DB: Interpreting Political Ads
In this discussion board, you will be discussing and interpreting
a recent political ad entitled "Mourning in America," which was
produced by The Lincoln Project, a political action committee
(PAC). If you are not familiar with the group, take a moment to
research it, as that context will add to your understanding and
interpretation. You can
click here
to view the ad.
As you watch "Mourning in America", think carefully about
how this political advertisement compares and contrasts with
Ronald Reagan's "Morning in America" ad, in terms of its
rhetorical methods as well as its overall message. You will be
asked to comment on

3. three
specific rhetorical elements, so decide which ones stand out
most to you and take careful notes on those to prepare for the
discussion.
When you are ready, click the link above to enter the
Discussion Board, and then follow the instructions in the first
thread posted in this forum for responding to this material.
Questions:-
Mourning in America
COLLAPSE
Your task here is to share with your peers your ideas on how
three
specific rhetorical elements or your choosing are used in this
ad to make its appeal to an audience and to convey a message.
1. Identity the three rhetorical elements that you have selected
and then
explain
how each one contributes to the ad's appeal and/or message.
2. Do you think that this is an effective political ad? Why or
why not? Explain.
Once you have posted your comments, read over those of your
peers and respond to at least
two
of them.

4. 3.
Film: Jhally, Advertising and the End of the World
Film: Jhally, Advertising and the End of the World
Click on the link above to watch the documentary film
Advertising and the End of the World
.
NOTE
: To access this film, you will need to create free an account on
Kanopy. Click the Log In button at the top right. From there,
you can quickly log in with an existing Google or Facebook
account. If you don't have either of those, you can create your
own new account with your personal email.
Sut Jhally, dir.,
Advertising and the End of the World,
Media Education Foundation, 2017.
In this film, media scholar Sut Jhally explores the devastating
personal and environmental fallout from advertising,
commercial culture, and rampant American consumerism. Jhally
identifies one consistent message running throughout all of
advertising: the idea that corporate brands and consumer goods
are the keys to human happiness. He then shows how this
powerful narrative, backed by billions of dollars a year and
propagated by the best creative minds, has blinded us to the
catastrophic costs of ever-accelerating rates of consumption.
Instructions:
Watch and take notes on the film as you do so. Pay careful
attention to how Jhally reads and interprets the meaning of the

5. many different advertisements that he shows throughout the
film. This will prepare you for a discussion of the film as well
as doing your own analyses of advertisements (or other visual
images) later on.
questions:-
DB: Jhally, Advertising and the End of the World
In this discussion board, you will be discussing Sut Jahlly's film
Advertising and the End of the World
.
Click the link above to enter the Discussion Board, and then
follow the instructions in the first thread posted in this forum
for responding to the film.
2 months agoAnonymous
Jhally, Advertising and the End of the World
COLLAPSE
1. Provide commentary on some element of the film. You can,
for example, reflect on information that was new to you, a fact
that surprised you, a detail that disturbed you, an idea that got
you thinking about things in a new way, etc. Please be
specific
, and please
explain
your thoughts and reactions in detail.
2. Reflect on the examples of advertisements presented and

6. discussed by Jhally. Which of these best helped you understand
how to interpret an advertisement? That is, which example
helped you better see how the meaning of an advertisement is
related to its purpose, audience, and the use of various
rhetorical methods?
Be specific
.
3. Pose a question for your peers for discussion. Here you might
try to clarify something that was confusing, further probe an
undeveloped idea, comment on elements that were not directly
addressed, or reflect on your own thinking, feelings, and
behaviors, etc. Again, please be specific and detailed.
Once you have made your posts, read through those of your
peers and respond to at least
two
of them.
4.
Images for Analysis
Images for Analysis
This folder contains a series of still images. These are a
combination of product advertisements, public service
announcements, and political cartoons.
As you view the images, think very carefully about the audience
and purpose for each, about the context (based on the brief info
given), and about the rhetorical elements and methods by which

7. the image conveys its meaning.
You will select just
one
of these images to discuss in detail in the next Discussion
Board. You will be asked to analyze the image in relation to
three
rhetorical elements of your choosing
DB: Image Analysis
Before proceeding with this discussion board, you need to have
already chosen just
one
image from the "Images for Analysis" folder above.
In your discussion board post, please do the following:
Questions:-
Anonymous
Image Analysis
COLLAPSE
In your discussion board post, please do the following:
Identify which image you selected and explain what led you to
make that choice.
Offer an interpretation of the image in the form of a thesis
statement (an interpretive claim).
Identify the

8. three
rhetorical elements that you believe are important to
understanding the image and explain how each one contributes
to the overall meaning (i.e., supports your interpretive claim).
Complete this discussion board with one initial response of at
least 200 words