Caitlin Ball

Period 2
November 21,
2015
Visual Analysis

This ad was made to raise public awareness for car accidents, specifically
involving children. I assume that the majority of drivers can relate to the parents
portrayed in this ad. The car seems to be a prime location for people to use their
phones. It is one of the very few times in our busy society where we are sitting
down and have nothing to do but think. People feel the need to make the most of
this seemingly wasted time by catching up on their cell phones. The car is also a
common place for people to catch up with each other throughout the day. The
parents in this photo look as if they are dealing with a fairly insignificant topic. The
mother is smiling and the father looks as if he is about to hand the phone over to
her, which suggests that they may be catching up with some friends or family

members. This topic most likely seems very important to them at the time,
however, as an afterthought, it most likely was something that could have been
dealt with later and saved them terrible grief. This ad appeals strongly to pathos
because of the two children shown. The older child on the street attracts our
attention because of the fear visible on the lower half of his face. He seems to be
screaming out for help. If his parents were to watch this event unfold, Im sure it
would break their hearts. This is the message the author is trying to get across
when he says, Think of both sides. The child of the parents in the front seats is
only visible from the eyes up in the rearview mirror. This much younger child seems
to complete the picture of the older boy outside the car, again referring back to the
powerful sentence, Think of both sides. Both points of view are suggested in the
photo. It is important to also recognize that while the parents of the young child are
not paying attention, their son is fully focused on what is unfolding before him. This
detail suggests to parents to be more careful how they act around their children
because they learn by example. The young child is also the only person whose eyes
are fully visible in the picture, which allows the viewer to connect on a more person
level with him.
The color scheme of this photo is effective in that it works to draw attention
to the focal point of the argument, which is the two children. The edges of the
picture begin dark and fade into the center of the picture to get a very clear view
through the windshield of the car. All of the characters are dressed in dark solid
colors and the cars interior is completely neutral. The older child is wearing a white
shirt to attract the viewers eyes. The text is also partly neutral, however, both
sides is in a bright red. This automatically demands the viewers attention and
emphasizes that it is the main point of their argument. This is a very effective

argument for people to pay more attention when they are at the wheel. The shock
value, appeal to pathos, and color scheme all work together to capture the viewers
attention and, more importantly, help them remember the image when they are
driving.

Works Cited
"60 Powerful Social Issue Ads Thatll Make You Stop And Think." Digital Synopsis.
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.