The public in print: revisiting historical US political visuals in a digital age

Image-making and visual design have long been intertwined with political upheavals. Two forms of persuasion in political communication—propaganda, and expressions of dissent—have relied heavily on visual channels. This thesis puts theories of communication, visual rhetoric, psychology of image-making and graphic design in conversation with historical and contemporary events and argues that images and design elements function as visual arguments. Borrowing from the framework of linguistics, this paper treats images both holistically and syntactically. First, it analyzes iconic political visuals from an image-making and visual communication perspective; then it traces the symbols’ evolution in political discourse across time. In doing so, this thesis argues that examining print and analog media and print history remains an essential methodology for interrogating contemporary political visual culture.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.F.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Art and Design

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Luo, Zhi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Briggs, Molly
• Mercer, Lisa
• Sibrian, Angelica

• Visual Rhetoric
• Visual Historiography
• Graphic Design
• Nationalism
• Racism
• History Of Printing.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Zhi Luo.

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121305

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121305