Seeing is Believing? Visual Rhetoric in Legal Argumentation Comparing the Role of Visual Evidence in American and Italian Courtrooms, in Rivista Studi Senesi, 2025, p. 201 ss.
https://www.edizioniesi.it/il-nostro-catalogo/studi-senesi-1-25.html
This paper explores the persuasive potential of visual rhetoric in legal argumentation, with a comparative focus on the American and Italian criminal justice systems. Drawing from rhetorical theory, classical tradition, and contemporary examples—including high-profile trials such as O.J. Simpson, Michael Skakel, Amanda Knox, and Yara Gambirasio—it examines how images function as arguments, particularly through the use of visual enthymemes. The article highlights the risks and benefits of integrating visual elements in courtrooms, advocating for a conscious and ethically grounded use of visual tools. It concludes by arguing for a renewed rhetorical awareness that bridges the gap between words and images in forensic discourse.
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© Gianluca Sposito
