Metaphor and pathos : a rhetorical exploration of animated poetry in theory and practice

Abstract

This research explores the rhetorical strategies used in animated poetry to evoke pathos and create resonant viewing experiences. Drawing on the theory of visual rhetoric, the study focuses on the use of metaphor in animated poetry as a means of eliciting emotional responses to multimodal content. Through a close analysis of the 12 animated poems in the TED-Ed animated poetry series, the study examines how visual and verbal language work together to create meaning and effect within the medium of animated poetry. The study investigates how the hybrid medium of animated poetry facilitates understanding and critical reflection on social issues. This research contributes to a growing body of scholarship on the intersection of poetry and visual media and highlights the unique potential of animated poetry to engage and resonate with audiences. The study explores the ways in which the TED-Ed animated poetry series There’s a poem for that, makes use of visual metaphor as a visual rhetorical device in designing digital representations of information sets. The study advocates that the use of visual metaphors assists in conveying meaning and creating resonant engagements with visual information. Moreover, the appeal to pathos cultivates connection with visual information. This study has paired the theory of visual rhetoric with the visual analysis of all 12 animated poems in the series to arrive at an understanding of the best practices involved when creating a meaningful animated poem. The key findings have been employed when considering the best practices involved when digitising and visualising interactive education content.