Visual Rhetoric 2





     The picture above is Deborah Barr visiting the grave of her brother, Daniel Dula, who served in the U.S. Navy.  This picture was taken at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan.  Deborah is visibly upset while honoring her late brother.  She is hunched over the grave, crying into her hands while a lone grave in the background has flowers placed in front.  The targeted audience in this picture would be everyone.  Anyone who has ever lost something or someone of great importance to them, knows the feelings that are associated in this picture.  There is great sadness involved.  The purpose of this picture is to let veterans know that they are not forgotten.  Their deaths affect hundreds or thousands of people throughout their communities and while it may take the family a great deal of time to come to terms with the passing, that veterans and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

     This image is also free of logos to make the message crystal clear.  This picture displays pathos in the most basic of intents.  The picture itself is so heart wrenching that is stirs emotions inside the viewer to times when they have dealt with the same circumstances. The woman appears to be hysterical with sadness as she crumbled to her knees to cry.  This hero gave the ultimate sacrifice, and the picture reiterates just how painful that can be.

     Ethos is displayed because not only is the woman honoring her brother by visiting him, but there are also flowers on a different grave signifying that other graves are visited as well.  This lends to the ideas that we, as a culture, will not forget the sacrifices made by these heroes.

     Mythos in this picture is the same principle as ethos.  There are multiple signs showing people have visited or continue to visit the fallen and honor their sacrifice.  This picture truly pulls at the heartstrings of a viewer.  For myself, I can only imagine what my family and friends would have been forced to endure had I been killed while deployed.  It is a great honor knowing that veterans will be remembered for their sacrifices.   I plan to visit more national graves to place flowers and thank those who sacrificed for me.

Jones, B. (n.d.) Picture about veteran’s family member.  Original source publication: We Remember.  Retrieved December 1, 2011, from http://02varvara.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/.