Visual Rhetoric By: Miranda Young

Main Subject: What is the main subject? That babies are at just as high of a risk to develop lung cancer by second hand smoke as when they are actually smoking the tobacco.

What is going on in the photograph? - There is a pacifier with a tobacco nipple, to signify that second hand smoke is just as dangerous.

What do you think interested this photographer about this subject? That the abuse of tobacco in society today has become widely popular, and so many people continue to think that there are no negative effects to it. Of course it might make you feel better but think of long term damages. Also audiences are sensitive to fragile aspects of life, such as babies, and it is sad that some babies have to constantly live with this second hand smoke. They are being punished with long term damages for something that was not their choice.

Audience: To whom do you think the author is trying to reach out to? I think the author is trying to reach out to those who smoke around their kids, and he is trying to get them to stop.

Time: When do you think this picture was taken? Possibly in the 2000’s, because all throughout the 1900’s tobacco was not viewed as badly as we see it now.

Visual Elements Light: Does the light seem natural or artificial? -The lighting is artificial like a spot light is on the pacifier. Harsh or Soft? - The lighting is kind of harsh, because its like it is putting you on the spot if you are guilty of smoking around your child! From what direction is the light coming? - The light is coming from above just as a spotlight would.

Focus: What parts of the image are clearly in focus? -The tobacco is the main focus because it is in more in the foreground, and it is the only object that is a different color then everything else in the picture.

Colors: They used Black and Blue, personally I think of these colors as dark colors. Dark blue is associated with being conservative and intelligent.

Framing The picture was taken from a lower level, and I think if it would have been taken from a higher level it would have made the picture seem more serious. Such as you are looking down on second hand smoke.

Original Purpose: This picture is trying to show us that just because we are not the ones smoking, we are in just as much danger as the person smoking. They chose a pacifier to represents all the babies whose parents smoke around them and not think anything about it. According to the University of Minnesota, if a person spends more than two hours in a room where someone is smoking, the nonsmoker inhales the equivalent of four cigarettes.

Logos: This photo appeals to your logic due to the fact that the photo does not give you an obviously clear message. You have to think about the true meaning of the picture.

Ethos This picture is very credible, Above the Influence is well known through television and magazine advertisements.

Pathos The emotional appeal of the picture is that it is making us feel sorry for the kids who have parents who smoke around them, since they are being punished for something they don’t have any control over.

Author Martin Cohen Mardyan

Second Hand Smoke. University of Minnesota. 19 June Web. 15 Sept Dark Blue Color Meaning. About.com Web. 15 Sept. 2010