TOW #21- Visual Text (Argument Format)

Unfortunately, this visual text makes a very true point about life that many may not want to accept.  The artist made this cartoon for people living in first-world countries who are most affected by governments that control many aspects of their lives.  In making this, the artist's purpose was to show citizens that they are a part of an endless maze in an effort to find happiness, because outer societal pressures constantly change the path to happiness to benefit themselves.  The representation of citizens through the rats was crucial to this message, because the facial expressions and humanization of the rats could enlist fear within the audience and make the situation seem more real.  The repetition among the four images also helps to show how society is on an endless paths that may change messages but is still the same maze.  "Happiness is just around the corner!" is a common phrase that everyone has most likely heard before, but repeating this quote in every photo in the collage of the cartoon shows that however the message that society pressures you may change, you never get any closer to happiness, because society's pressures are artificial and not actually helping you to move towards happiness in life.

This artist, while intelligently using repetition and representation, also makes an argument with his visual.  The argument is that life is one big maze and society tells the people that they know the way towards it, but truly, it's only for their benefit.  In our American society, this is most definitely true.  Businesses no longer try and selflessly show their customers the best option for them, but rather show them the most expensive options that will profit their business the most.  Looking at this image, I do not want to be one of the rats, but this maze seems inescapable.