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Cody Minnis

Professor Granillo

English 103

4 December 2019

Wedding Cake Redesign Outline

I. INTRODUCTION

A. 17 billion dollars was spent on wedding cakes last year.

B. Wedding cakes are used to celebrate the marriage but can serve as a call to

action for social change. These cakes use rhetoric and semiotics to send

messages to its audience.

C. The different modes used by the cake designer help determine how the cake is

received and if there is social activism.

D. With a redesign of the cake and using the feminist lens along with different

visual, gestural, linguistic modes, the feminist message can be a positive

message and used to create a society that allows people to feel equally valued.

II. Visual Modes

A. Visual Modes of original cake

Topic Sentence: Visual modes, those things seen like color and layout

should educate the audience.

1. Rachael Graham - “the theme, text, and even the flavor of a cake should

teach the audience about the celebratee’s interests and the reason for

celebrating” (32)

2. Summary – The visual signifiers of the original cake promoted a

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negative message for feminism.

3. Transition - The redesign allows for a more positive message to be

received.

B. Visual Modes of redesign cake

Topic Sentence: Some visuals are the same but others have changed.

1. Evidence –“the process of redefining cultural norms, especially those of

gender, [and] is a delicate, complex, and often ambiguous one” (Dean

288).

2. Summary-Visual clues used in a positive form with the feminist

perspective leads to change and social activism.

3. Transition – The next mode of redesign builds on the visual mode.

III. Gestural Modes

A. Gestural modes of original cake

Topic Sentence: The gestural modes deal with the movement of the

cake and the original design promote separation and lack of emotion.

1. Evidence - “signs are ever an available means for reproducing the

events and feelings which they describe” (Fox 397).

2. Analysis – Bride and groom do not have equal feelings for each other

3. Warrant – Groom has less value in the relationship.

4. Transition – The message has to be deliberate for social activism.

B. Gestural mode of redesign cake

Topic Sentence: Using feminist lens the gestures need to promote equality.

1. Evidence – Smiles, holding bouquet and spatial relationships

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2. Analysis – New gestures strengthen a positive message

3. Warrant – People treated as equals can accomplish many things.

4. Transition – Gestures lead into verbal communication.

IV. Linguistic Mode

A. Linguistic of original cake

Topic Sentence: Linguistic are the use of word and phrasing.

1. Evidence – “Prisoner of Your Love” conveys one person is controlled

by another.

2. Analysis – Prisoner and your shows confinement and possession.

3. Warrant – No one should feel controlled by another person.

4. Transition – People need to move away from this ideology for social

change.

B. Linguistic mode of redesign cake

Topic Sentence: Redesign needs to show connection between feminism

and marriage without losing credibility.

1. Evidence - Once two meanings have been brought together, the two

senses may either coexist, or one of the two may win out” (Attardo 93).

2. Analysis – Double meaning that words have allow for multiple

messages.

3. Warrant – Judgements made by audience allow for the double meanings

4. Transition – Judgements help promote social activism.

V. CONCLUSION

A. Re-stated thesis- The redesign of the cake allows for a positive feminist
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message to be given by way of visual, gestural, and linguistic modes.

B. Brief summary of main ideas – Ideologies in society are based on outdated

Thinking and need to change.

C. Reflection/Call for action – For society to change, ideas need to continue to

evolve and change as well. It’s everyone’s responsibility to understand the

messages.