Transcript Humor and Visual Arguments

Often works best when dealing with
ordinary life and controversial topics.
 “Humor, especially satire, is a knifes edge
that had better cut precisely or not at
all.”
 Darker side of humor
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› Can make people feel superior to its targets
of ridicule
› Bullies and cliques often use humor to
torment their innocent victims
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Confident speakers may make fun of
themselves seeming clever yet aware of
their own limitations
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Make your audience laugh
› Serious political begin with jokes- puts
listeners at ease and helps them identify with
the speaker
Many kinds
 Satire
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› Popular among college students
› The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, S.N.L.
› Often shifts perspective urging a look at a
situation in a new way
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Parody
› Taking something familiar and turns it into
something new
› Works best when audiences make connection
Point out flaws in policy, proposal, or
other kinds of argument
 Suggest policy of your own
 Put people in a favorable frame of mind
 Acknowledge weaknesses or deflect
criticism
 Satirize or parody a position or point of
view
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Very powerful
› Engrave pictures in your mind
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Visual Literacy
› Being able to consider a presentation and
how its visual elements affect the way you
perceive the information
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Ask
› Who is the creator, what is his/her attitude toward
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the image
What media is being used and what role does it play
What does the visual text assume about its viewers
How does the text make you feel
What purpose does the text convey
What is “highlighted” or catchy
What colors are used
How are you direct to move within arguments
Is anything repeated
Images that reinforce authority and
credibility
 How does your design reflect your
character?
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› Fonts style and size used
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Follow required design convention
› Shows competence
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Organize information visually
› Similar heading usually related
› Large font should be more important then
lesser size font
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Convey data efficiently
› Charts, maps, diagrams
Follow profession guidelines
 Check for copyrighted material
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Very powerful
› pictures -> emotions -> actions
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Color matters
› Red dress, blue lights
› Common sense principles