David S. Birdsell and Leo Groarke, in their essay “Toward a Theory of Visual Argument” (1996), make a compelling appeal for scholars to consider the notion that visual rhetoric and visual images are indeed arguments and not simply images. Birdsell and Groarke support their claim by offering powerful examples of imagery that act as rhetoric as well as arguments; these images strike against the prevalent notion that “visual images are in some way arbitrary, vague and ambiguous” (310). The purpose of the authors’ argument is to build upon the theory that through the comprehension of visual rhetoric we will “flesh out” (319) a healthy and sturdy theoretical backbone upon which we may build visual argumentation—one which may one day rival verbal argumentation. Birdsell and Groarke develop an informal relationship with their audience of scholars and graduate students who are interested in seeing both sides of the visual argument issue.
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