Rhetoricality of Visual Arrangement

Frentz & Frentz Law Ad vs. Kent D. Rossi Ad

Both emphasize personal injury
Order/control vs. action/energy
Firm vs. name and face of attorney

Rules or Rhetoric?
Frentz and Frentz follows all the rules of construction, but Rossi ad tends to generate greater likelihood of calling (in informal surveys) due to the rhetoric of the situation. He may be a scumbag, but he's my scumbag!

Cigarette warnings

In the US:
All caps hard to read
Small font
On side of box
In a box that makes it hard to read

License Agreement

All caps
No paragraph breaks
Scroll bar hides additional text

Data Graphics: Projected Population Aged 65% and Over

Color choice implies danger
Axis choice emphasizes change over level

More examples at Junk Charts blog

O.J. Simpson Covers

Altering levels or emphasizing race?

Photoshopping

Sites that show before and after photos:
Girl Power
Fluideffect

Is this distortion or enhancement?