Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Inquiry One Revision

This is the conclusion of my paper. Some of the comments I received mentioned a deviation from the narrative towards the end, so I am revising my conclusion to incorporate more of a narrative as well as show how the story comes full circle.
 
            This video was produced to get an organization’s goal to end the evil doings of Joseph Kony viewed by as many people as possible. Their dialogue in the film was informative, yet conversational. The organization can also be considered an example of ethos, as its creators appear trustworthy to its intended audience and appear competent in what they are reporting. I feel Invisible Children was successful with its campaign because they launched their video in a time where videos could be shared quickly and social media sites were a large part of many people's lives. I also feel Invisible Children was successful with their campaign because they established a relationship with their intended audience through the use of personal pronouns ("We can change this..., You can help..., etc.) You felt that you were being specifically addressed to help change the lives of people in need. Their uses of different principals of rhetoric allowed them to become a viral movement that got many people, myself included, who would have otherwise been unaware of the issue involved, and can serve as a model for other organizations on how to bring more attention to their causes. I also learned the power of emotional appeal, or pathos, form their use of rhetoric. If you get enough people to care about something, you can bring about change and awareness on a large scale.


 Revised: 

            I think Invisible Children did an excellent job getting me and millions of others to watch their video.  Their dialogue in the film was informative, yet conversational. "Right now, there are more people on Facebook then there were on the planet 200 years ago" is one the first things said by the narrator that really captured my interest and made me want to continue to hear what he was talking about. He goes on to explain that we live in a time where social media and technology allow us to connect with people and share moments and interests in a matter of seconds. This emphasis on how these connections are changing the way the world works made me see that they really understood their audience. By utilizing social media and the available technology, they were able to capitalize on the "kairos" moment. Watching them in the video showing footage from their trips to effected areas, of their speeches at assemblies, and of some of the children who suffered, portrayed Invisible Children as a trustworthy informant and is a good example of ethos.  I also feel Invisible Children was successful with their campaign because they established a relationship with their intended audience through the use of personal pronouns ("We can change this..., You can help..., etc.) You felt that you were being specifically addressed to help change the lives of people in need. The combination of various appeals to their audience played an integral role in their success. I think by combining a strong, emotional appeal with an opportune moment gave them perfect conditions for their message to reach many people. 
          After closing my computer, I lay there thinking about what I had just watched. I was heartbroken, but also inspired. Invisible Children had brought to my attention a horrible situation, but convinced me that there were things I could do to help. I learned the power of emotional appeal, or pathos, form their use of rhetoric. If you get enough people to care about something, you can bring about change and awareness on a large scale.

1 comment:

  1. This is a nice development. By putting yourself more into the analysis, you are able to make more significant points about their audience -- since you were their audience!

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