In the previous post, I analyzed three of the most obvious rhetorical appeals made by Fallen Dreamer. In this post, we will look at some of the less obvious rhetorical appeals made in Fallen Dreamer and examine their impact on the
argument being made.

The first thing we will analyze is the physical composition of Fallen Dreamer. Since it is made for outdoor display, it cannot be made of wood, ceramic, or other fragile materials. Thus, it is made out of bronze, which is an alloy of copper and (usually) tin. In the case of Fallen Dreamer, it is a dark brownish-gold, almost black. Molding the sculpture with a dark metal subtly adds to the weight of the argument. In the American culture (the sculptor of Fallen Dreamer was, after all, American), dark colors are subconsciously associated with solemn emotions and depression. Thus, the darkness of the metal in Fallen Dreamer cause the viewer to subconsciously attach dark feelings to the sculpture.

In addition to being dark, bronze becomes green when it weathers. In this particular incarnation of Fallen Dreamer, there has been limited weathering on the neck and forehead. This gives the statue an old feel. This causes the viewer (if he/she notices it) to view the sculpture as an old object. In our culture, older objects are given special attention as important. Thus, the weathering causes an audience member to give more attention to Fallen Dreamer than he would otherwise give. The choice material, through coloring and aging, gives Fallen Dreamer a far more serious feel than a giant, disembodied head usually would have.

The second unobvious rhetorical device employed by Fallen Dreamer is context. It is the only sculpture on the steps to the Sheldon Art Museum at the University of Nebraska. It is, in a sense, a welcome mat. It is certainly odd that a giant head is the welcoming piece for visitors, but it also speaks to the nature of the art museum.

Sheldon contains mostly abstract art. The art it contains and the artists who created the paintings and sculptures are often misunderstood. They are seen as outcastes in their cultures. Although most of them did not meet violent deaths, in a sense the artists in Sheldon were (or are) fallen dreamers. They have great dreams for their artwork, yet were ostracized by their peers. Their dreams were, indeed, fallen. Fallen Dreamer speaks to their pain, and asks visitors to do the same.

While Fallen Dreamer is a welcome mat for Sheldon, it is also out of the normal path visitors take. It is in the center of the stairway, which no visitors use. Students enter the museum from the right side of the staircase, non-students enter the museum from the left side. There is no direction from which a visitor can approach the middle without going out of their way. This speaks to the nature of fallen dreamers. Unless they were heroically killed in bringing their dreams to fruition, no one really cares. Audiences pass by with hardly a glance.

There are obvious elements to Fallen Dreamer that everyone can see. However, a deeper examination of the sculpture can reveal subtle and intentional decisions made by the artist and museum to amplify the message of this piece of art.