Joey Murphy

Jeffrey Bain-Conkin
Rhetorical Analysis
April 20, 2015
An Analysis of the Graphic Poster TRAFFIK
Slavery isnt gone. Evil, inhumane atrocities are committed in seemingly civilized places
all across the world. People are still bought and sold as property. This is all due to the
underground world of human trafficking. Human trafficking is a worldwide and prevalent issue
in the modern world. This was the driving purpose behind artist Marlena Buczek Smith in
creating her poster art titled TRAFFIK. She wanted to bring awareness to this issue and to inform
the audience of its wide reach, while also representing the issue in a creative way. She does this
through her use of color, layout, and style.
The poster has a reddish brown background color, and the word TRAFFIK across the top
in white. Below, there are the top half silhouettes of six people seen from the side arranged in a
circle. These silhouettes are each a different color; black, blue, white, yellow, beige, and green.
In the center of the silhouettes there is a red fist, clenching six white link chains which lead to the
necks of each silhouette. All of these items, including the word TRAFFIK, look hand drawn and
therefore slightly crude.
The first and most obvious way Smith chooses to express her message is through her use
of color. The word TRAFFIK is at the top in large, capital, white letters, making it very clear that
this piece is about human trafficking. She uses the reddish brown background to create two
different states of mind. First, the background is an earth tone, which speaks to the worldwide

message of the piece. Second, the color is similar to that of dirt, referencing the underground
system through which human trafficking is carried out.
The six silhouettes represent the six continents on which human trafficking takes place.
Each silhouette is colored one of six different colors. The colors each stand out on their own and
immediately the audience knows there must be significance. They bring to mind images such as
the olympic rings. The colors do not seem to have any direct correlation to specific continents.
The red hand in the center represents the evil and wicked people who are in control of these
operations. It also stands for the system as a whole. Red is seen often as the color of evil, used
for satanic images and fire.
The poster stands out on a wall due to the large white text at the top and the uncommon
background color. This immediately draws attention especially when surrounded with posters
with mostly white or black backgrounds. It makes the viewer want to look and immediately begs
the question, Now why is this one different than the others?. The color scheme of the
silhouettes also stand out, drawing attention quickly to the main part of the piece.
The second way in which Smith expresses her message is her use of layout. The word
TRAFFIK across the top of the piece is meant to attract attention and to tell people what the
piece is about. The silhouettes are arranged in a circle, bringing to mind images of Earth. The
circle can also represent a cycle, showing how the process is repeated day after day. Perhaps the
most obvious meaning behind the circle is the reference to what is commonly called a
prostitution ring. The silhouettes form a literal ring in the poster just as the victims are part of
prostitution rings in real life.
The clenched fist is a symbol of power, gripping tightly to each chain it holds. It comes
across as very powerful, and it effectively gives off the impression of representing something

bad. The white chains are perhaps the most direct part of the piece. They are leading from the fist
to the silhouettes, very clearly showing the hold the powerful have on the victims. In many cases,
the victims are chained in real life in much the same way. The chain is a linked one, suggesting
that the everything in the world of human trafficking is connected to the real world some how.
The linked chains are also common with animals, representing how poorly the victims are
treated.
The most interesting thing about the chains is the fact that they wrap around the neck of
the silhouettes. Chains around hands or feet bind the person, but that is simply to keep the person
from getting out. A chain around the neck, one of the most vulnerable places on the human body,
symbolizes the complete and total control those in charge have over the victims.
One of the unique methods Smith uses is her style. The style chosen for this piece is a
rough, hand drawn look, and that speaks to many things. First, the hand and chains look very
crude, which speaks to the crude nature of many of these operations. The lettering at the top is in
a very rudimentary style, reflecting on the fact that many of the main parts of this business are
taking place in areas which are poor and undeveloped. The figures being silhouettes stands as a
recognition of the fact that the victims of these crimes are nameless and faceless, stripped of their
identities. It is difficult to tell whether the silhouettes were drawn as men or women. This is done
to show that human trafficking is an issue that effects both sexes, and that it isnt tied down to a
specific type of person. The heads on the silhouettes are drawn looking down, showing the
sadness and pain of the victims. It also represents the forced submissive nature life they have to
lead.
As an argument, these elements come together very well and form a very strong and
direct message. The correct viewing of the piece does require some knowledge before hand, just

enough so that one could recognize and understand correctly what the piece is trying to say. This
raises issues when thinking back to the purpose of the piece, which is to spread awareness about
the issue. If an unaware person looks at this piece, they might become very confused and move
on quickly due to this fact.
Traffik aims to bring to light the issue of human trafficking and to represent the system to
the viewer. The methods through which Marlena Buczek Smith does so are very well thought out
and creative, and the message comes through strong and clear. However, the piece falls short in
effectively communicating its message to the audience who needs it most, the uninformed. It
offers too little in means of convincing one to care enough to study the poster further. As a piece
used solely for representation, it is very successful. But as a piece that seems to aim for
education, it does not quite reach the mark.