Sunday, May 8, 2011

How Images Communicate with us


I used this image in the blog I developed because it shows the devastating reality of anorexia. The image above is an example of how this eating disorder could physically and mentally destroy a person; indeed this picture talks for itself. This image is very powerful and it is intended to create awareness and also to establish a social message in people of all ages since there is not discrimination of age, sex, or social status to suffer from this illness.

Pathos describes how an image can address our emotions. Watching at this portrait many of us could feel shock and overwhelm with emotions.  It is almost impossible not to feel pain and maybe many of us struggle with the idea that she sees herself as the materialization of beauty. For many of us it is hard to believe that in order to achieve this image this girl has taken herself this far. That is why it is very important to understand that anorexia is a physical and a mental illness as well. We can clearly see that she looks almost lost, fragile and hopeless. I believe that this picture can transmit many different emotions to the viewers.

Logos describes how an image would look to the audience intellect and reasoning and I think this picture is making a clear statement and calling for our attention. Perhaps, this image might hurt the sensibility of some people it is more than evident that and action is needed if we want to stop the growing number of women suffering for eating disorders.

Ethos, describes how an image address our sense of trust and beliefs and this portrait is definitely the living probe that anorexia is a real illness and not just a matter of fashion. By looking at this picture we are definitely convinced that anorexia is extremely dangerous and deadly.

Mythos describes how an image appeals to our values as person in a community.  This picture is clearly calling to our sensibility and values as human beings to approach this problem starting at the heart of our homes and to extend to our community in order to drive consciousness in our society to become knowledgeable and take action to help those who suffered from this terrible condition.  

Citation

Image (n.d.) Retrieved April 5, 2011 from http://www.natural-holistic.healthsunion.com .




           This cartoon relates well with the section in my blog that describes obesity as one of the most common eating disorders in western culture. Perhaps, this cartoon displays with humoristic sarcasm how obesity is becoming the affliction of many Americans and how this numbers keep its increment. The cartoonist used humor to catch the audience attention and to direct this attention to visualize a real problem that is screaming for an immediate plan of action by the community and our authorities. I believed this sketch is intended to target different audiences but is principally directed to those who are victims of our culture of super sized meals and fast food restaurants in every corner.

This particular cartoon speaks to me in many different ways. The man in the drawing looks clearly unhappy, stressed, exhaustive, disgusted and even sick. It almost seems like he is carrying the weight of the whole world on his body as he weighted himself in the scale –even when he can’t really see the numbers in the scale-- his facial expression and body language can easily transmit all of these emotions to the audience (Pathos).
The image clearly shows a referential statistic (he is holding a sheet of paper on his left hand) of the growing number of obese people in America. Unfortunately this is the shocking and ugly truth of our actual society; and the cartoonist make an excellent job graphically displaying this reality with humor and sarcasm (Logos). This cartoon is also targeting the attention of the general community – specially the “consumers” -- as America is becoming one of the countries with the highest numbers of obese population in the world. I considered the title “Oh Say Can You See … your feet?” hilarious, but sad at the same time because this is a social epidemic that could be easily prevented specially in our children since the parents are the ones responsible to manage their nutrition and good health (Mythos).

By looking at this cartoon it is not hard to believe that certainly this statistics are true and we can corroborate this numbers just by looking over our circle of family and friends, for sure three out of ten of them are afflicted with a weight related problem (Ethos).

I chose this cartoon because I think that it could create awareness in the audience and maybe help us to realize that this is a problem that we can address by making responsible choices when it comes to what we eat. Not always what it tastes good is the best pick for our health. I strongly believed that an image can say more than thousand words.

Citation

Editorial Cartoon (n.d.) Oh say can you see? Factson File new Services. Retrieved April 28, 2011 from http://www.2facts.comezproxy.vccs.edu .

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