Cassie Eggert

Professor Toohey

ENG 170-31

Visual Memoir

27 September 2023

The piece that I stumbled upon is fairly simple. It is a stop sign, with the words “stop killing us” scribbled onto it. Although we were advised against using street signs, the writing on this specific stop sign really caught my eye. I was in a little bit of a rush, but the extra words on the sign caught my attention. I was waiting to cross the street and was stopped in front of the sign anyway, so I didn’t necessarily go out of my way to find it. The writing is not really all that noticeable, as the red color of the marker blends in with the stop sign, but I was curious as to what it said.

In this case, it was more the meaning of the writing that stuck out to me rather than any specific visual aspect. After all, you need to look rather closely to even see the words in the first place. The fact that you must stop and look in order to see what the writing says makes it more effective, in my opinion. You can’t just casually read it as you’re passing by, the writing is a little too camouflaged on the stop sign– so you need to stop and really look closely. In this way, I feel as though the viewer is granted an opportunity to connect with the text on a deeper level. Furthermore, the simplistic nature of the sign puts more emphasis on the words. There are no extra colors, no flashy art, and nothing extravagant to focus on. By forcing the viewer to focus on the meaning of the words rather than their appearance, the viewer can think more deeply about the meaning and message of the art. I really liked the simplicity of the art. And how, even despite the simplicity, it was still making a statement and urging for change. I think it is interesting that things do not have to be extremely elaborate to be able to communicate a complex feeling or idea. Something as simple as three words written on an unsuspecting stop sign can have the same effect as a large mural.

I think that the sign, with the words scribbled upon it, is utilizing more of a form of persuasive rhetoric. The writing isn’t very eye-catching, colorful, or extravagant. After all, at its core, it is just an ordinary stop sign. There aren’t any especially interesting visual elements that are trying to get a point across. Instead, the sign relies on the viewers’ interpretation of the phrase written upon it. The phrase “stop killing us” is very reminiscent of chants from various social movements, marches, and demonstrations. It is a simple and short, yet extremely impactful statement. When the saying is displayed on a sign like this, it is more of a call to action to any ordinary passerby. It is trying to convince them to contribute towards meaningful positive change; if anything, it is simply asking that an individual extends their support, at the very least. Because of this, I think the piece fits better under the category of persuasive rhetoric, rather than visual.

I think that it is an interesting choice to place art on such an inconspicuous place as a stop sign. The sign isn’t in any particularly special location, and the words written on it are somewhat hidden. Nonetheless, I found that the art and writing effectively communicated the desperation for change that is expressed by many social movement groups. Again, I think that the powerful meaning behind the phrase is exemplified through its clarity, and the simple way in which it is written on the stop sign. A statement can still be extremely impactful and significant, even if it isn’t especially intricate. Sometimes, like in this case, something that is simple and straightforward has the potential to be just as influential.