WP2: Statement of Purpose

Among the many types of medium used to convey arguments, the comic is one that has different abilities than other typical formats. While it has the ability to address difficult subjects in a personable manner to the audience, this medium also requires the use of many rhetorical devices as well. In order to be effective, the author must consider the purpose, audience, and context of the message, among other things. Thus, in creating a comic, my purpose is to largely apply the rhetorical concepts used in the medium of comics to convey a message to my audience. More specifically, this message is mainly that politicians in the U.S. are not true representatives of citizens, as they are extremely wealthy, which possibly skews their view on various issues.

Besides looking at the purpose, paying attention to the particular audience and context of the comic are also crucial when making decisions throughout the illustration process. The primary audience of my particular comic is my professor, as he will be the one reading and grading the comic. The secondary audience, however, includes my classmates and other people who stumble across it. This being said, the context of the comic is that it is published on the internet via a blogpost. Noting this can help further refine the primary level of audience, as anyone with the internet could potentially view the comic. These individuals might possibly be looking to gain a particular insight, or a laugh from the comic’s message. The fact that this audience consists of primarily educated older people is important in that its political message would be difficult for a child to understand. Moreover, the various modes of appeal used for this particular audience need to be considered throughout its construction.

One mode of appeal that is essential in the comic is logos, as logic plays a huge roll in the particular message I am trying to illustrate. Essentially I demonstrate that political representatives need to be extremely wealthy people in order to fund successful campaigns, etc. In looking at the resulting disparity between wealth of representatives and the bank accounts of average Americans, this sheds light as to the gap between governmental interests and those of the general population. Thus, the text and storyline of the comic need to clearly convey this logical message through the use of a narrative, analogies, etc. In addition, the selection of a particular typography as well as considering the framing, or the way in which the particular panels are read, can also add to the clarity of logic.

Another mode of appeal important to the argument is the pathos generated in the comic. The emotion and general feeling of the audience helps to convey the message in as personable way as possible, so that it connects with each individual. One unique method of doing this in comics is by varying the level of abstraction of the characters. Generally the audience can identify more closely with a less detailed character than a realistic figure, and so using the correct level of will help the audience identify with certain characters (specifically the blue-collar ones). In addition, applying specific hues in various locations of the comic also have the ability to draw attention to particular aspects of the message, as well as convey a particular pathos to the audience. In my particular situation, I might want to add color to the blue-collar workers, so that the audience notices this color and relates with them. These aspects are all important in creating a comic, and if I consider them, my message will most likely be clearer and more effective.