Blog #3

Blair's main argument is that visual arguments exist and do not differ much from verbal arguments. He thoroughly explains what the definition of an argument he is using consists of. He writes about the similarities between arguments and assertions. Blair also gives a lot of examples of visual arguments throughout the chapter in different categories including television commercials, cartoons, magazines and a few others.

Blairs reasoning of a visual argument is based upon the assertion that an argument include reasons be overtly expressed, and that reasons and claim be linguistically explicable (Blair 346). He gives several examples of how visual arguments can exist. The one that stood out the most to me is the pictures on pages 352 through 354. The reason this caught my eye is because without reading anything i could interpret the picture into an argument in my head. I knew it was arguing for justice and equality for all races. It is saying visually that racism needs to be stopped (Blair 353-354). 

Although I believe Blairs example above is a good representation of a visual argument, I could also see how it may be interpreted as an assertion instead of an argument. The pictures could be making a point that people of different races should be treated equally. If this is the case it would not be classified as an argument.

Overall I agree with Blair that visual arguments exist. There is a fine line to be considered though when one is determining if a visual piece is an argument or an assertion. In the end it depends on the audience and how they interpret the image.

Works Cited

Blair, J. Anthony."The Possibility and Actuality of Cisual Arguments." Visual Rhetoric in a Digital World. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's 2004.