Visual Rhetoric

Edited Everquest picture entitling Evercrack obtained December 9, 2010 from the World Wide Web. http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2008/11/340x_evercrack.jpg

This image is based off of a massively multiplayer online role playing game.  This particular game was the first of its kind which has now expanded into video game titles such as World of Warcraft where millions of people play every day.  Any age group can play this game as long as they can cough up the fifteen dollar a month fee.  Who doesn’t want to save the beautiful goddess woman on the cover with the lurking monsters in the background about to jump her?  The actual game is called Everquest but appears as Evercrack in this illustration because this game is very hard to kick.  The game makers made the game in such a way that there is no end and more content is released through expansions or monthly updates.

Pathos in this depiction contains a few layers of connecting feelings.  First there is that aspect of joining the fight against evil monsters to save the damsel in distress.  Then there is that feeling of doing all of this fighting with your friends, brothers, or sisters by your side in that you will not be alone for this war.  But on the other side, this is just a video game and you could be doing something much more productive with your time.

Ethos in this image which is being credible and the belief in something could go either way.  The image is clearly stating that this particular video game and drugs correlate.  Now whether this is credible or not all depends on the user because they ultimately are the consumers of the game.

Mythos in this photo of bringing people together is the main attraction.  This is what I believe is the most powerful part of these types of video games since they are massively multiplayers.  This game brings in millions of people from around the world to fight alongside each other in a virtual world.  That in turn forms friendships, some even lifelong. 

Logos in this picture is where the artist wants this video game and drugs well connected.  Calling the game Evercrack instead of its original name, we are supposed to believe that this game is as addictive as the most addictive substance known to man, crack cocaine.  It goes on to say that the game will ruin your life and that the lives of loved ones will suffer at your expense due to the video game habit.

Picture of crazed gamer behind computer obtained December 9, 2010 from the World Wide Web. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sl5S3IKCKLA/SfIvHmHEqwI/AAAAAAAABAw/k56hce8d6P0/s400/internet_addict.jpg

The next image I have is of a crazed computer video game user.  This is trying to show what the typical video game addict looks like and is feeling.  The illustrator is trying to scare the audience from becoming like this particular image with the bulging bloodshot eyes and I.V. of espresso hooked up to the guys arm.  Any gamer can tell you that keeping up with the pace requires full attention and that caffeine helps in a huge way.

Pathos in this illustration is the craziness and wackiness that is seen in the face expression.  Bloodshot eyes, grinding teeth, and messed up hair all show that this person is heavily involved in some type of drug induced state of mind.  How and why would a particular person want to feel this way?

Ethos in this photo is the belief that video games can be dangerous.  It looks like the said person is on one or many kinds of drugs and that alone is not healthy.  Gaming may turn the ordinary person into a semi similar picture if left uncontrolled.

Mythos in this depiction you could say are the people he is playing with in the virtual world.  But that is really stretching it because he sitting alone in the dark behind a computer screen.  He could possibly even be playing a single player game which involves no mythos what so ever. 

The logos in this picture involves a very key aspect involved in video gamers lives which is speed.  The ability to do things very fast pace in order to maximize time greatly separates a good gamer from a great gamer.  In the photo he has notes that say “ASAP” and the espresso concentrate I.V. hooked in his arm as if a regular espresso was not potent enough.  This guy could be said to be a super gamer by the looks of this picture.