
Visual elements can greatly affect the reader’s outlook of the story. Visual elements can add to the mood of the story while explaining a deeper meaning behind just the text. This essay will evaluate the effect visual elements have on “The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaption”.

The visual text displays the jobs of the United States as given by the Preamble of the Constitution. For example, when the panel reads “…provide for the common defense…” (Hennessey, 202) the visual display used is an aircraft carrier with jets flying over it, meaning that it’s the work of the soldiers to defend America. On the second page, the text shows the change of the Constitution over time and describes the difference between the original constitution made in 1787 with the current constitution. The change is shown within the pictures as the reader moves on to the next panels. It shows a compass transition into a GPS device to correlate with the transition of the original 1787 constitution into the better, modern constitution. The example the visual gives that displays the effect of this for the American population is people of minorities led by father time approaching the white, land-owning men holding a vault closed. The next scene shows the vault open and many different people standing in front of it, showing that everyone could now vote.

This text is drawn for the people of America or people interested in maybe coming to America. The text displays images that only someone familiar with American propaganda would understand. “The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaption” was written by Jonathan Hennessey and illustrated by Aaron McConnell. The pair have completed graphic novels for historic American documents like the US Constitution and the Gettysburg Address. 

On page 202 the visuals are stacked right on the next one and there is no clear barrier. This is used to show that each phrase is connected to the next one to form a sentence. The visual text helps to show how much the United States does for its citizens whether they realize it or not. 

On page 203 the visual text is now drawn with barriers to show the before and after panels like the compass and the GPS. This shows to the reader that America has improved for all people over time.

The visual text uses common American scenes on page 202 like the suburban, peaceful neighborhood, the aircraft carrier with American flags all around it, and the dam or infrastructure of America. These symbols help the reader to identify what the Preamble is referring to when it is listing the jobs of the United States Government. On page 203, the images don’t directly show change over time but they work together to help the reader infer it. The compass is drawn in a dull, brown color and looks old due to the dust and cobwebs. At the same time, the GPS is drawn to look high tech and is being used even in the drawing, unlike the compass. This helps to make the reader infer change from the old world to the new world in the next two panels.

Visual elements can appeal to the emotions of the readers by bringing up similar images of the reader’s past. The image of the suburban neighborhood on page 202 can give the reader a sense of feeling at home which could make them feel safe. Next, the image of the aircraft carrier and the jet planes can lead to a sense of patriotism for America. Also, the images of what America used to be like with the compass and the segregation of voting can lead to a negative mood while the images of modern day America with the compass and all people having full rights can lead to a positive mood due to the beneficial change over time. 

Unstated assumptions or arguments can be represented by certain visual elements to show the author’s purpose. The images found on page 202 helps to show all of the services the United States provides for its people and its lands and how essential these services are for the country to function properly. The graphic on page 203 that represents the segregation of rights displays the minority races with angry faces and the white men with scared faces. The next panel then shows everyone, white men along with the people whose rights were restricted, together with content faces honoring the American flag. This helps represent that this is what America really stands for and that these freedoms are for all people, not just white, land-owning men.

One with a different context or someone not familiar with the history of America could view this graphic novel and have a negative perspective of America. For example, the image of the beggar in front of the Social Security Administration building could be seen as America not doing enough to help those afflicted by poverty. Also the image of the African American men in handcuffs could lead someone to think that America denies freedoms to the people who aren’t of Caucasian decent. Finally, the images of the wildfire and the environmental workers providing aid for the duck could make someone think that America is country plagued by disaster. Though most people know these assumptions to not be true it is possible for someone that is unfamiliar with America to believe them.

Visual elements help provide thoughts to the reader that the words alone may not give. In “The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaption”, visual elements help to represent what the government does for its people, show the improvement of America over time, and make the Preamble simpler to understand by using images. This graphic novel gives a sense of inspiration for this improving country.