As we’ve discussed during class, advocacy can take many forms. So far, we’ve examined how a seemingly simple infographic, like Penn State’s One in Five Poster, can be layered with logos, ethos, and pathos-based appeals. We’ve seen how the members of the State College community used change.org to advance the Stop the Penn State Pipeline petition.
We’ve viewed examples of Amnesty International’s visually-gripping It’s Not Happening Here, But It Is Happening Now campaign, and we noticed how one tragedy spurred public interest to change how 911 calls are dialed from hotel rooms.
Advocacy, like this extended and understandably disturbing photo essay on domestic violence, can create both dialogue and backlash, as evidenced by this poynter.org article discussing the photo essay’s aftermath.
Advocacy sometimes engages (or enrages), yet one thing we do not want is for advocacy to fall flat. In light of this, when framing your advocacy project, consider the rhetorical situation and the interconnectivity of message, audience, and mode.
- The message should be clear so audience members know how they should respond to the piece, whether it be affective (how they feel), cognitive (how they think), or behavioral (how they act).
- The audience should be thoughtfully selected. Who is this piece directed toward? Why is this demographic being targeted?
- The mode – the format through which the message is expressed, such as a written piece, a podcast, a video, a performance, a visual poster, a social media campaign — should be appropriate to not only convey the message appropriately, but also to best intersect with the desired audience.
Let us consider a few more examples, starting with this PSU student-produced “It Gets Better” video:
Contrast this with a video produced by Notre Dame students called “Spread the Word to End the Word.”
While the modal choices are the same (video), which piece more successfully conveys its message? Why? What rhetorical appeals are used, and what does each video ask from its intended audience?
Looking for more examples and resources?
Chelsea’s Law Petition and Video (Submitted for Advocacy Project SP12)
Facebook Advocacy Group: Hurricane Sandy (PSU student generated)
“Touch a Stranger” Project (odd, yet a form of advocacy in itself)
20 Tools to Create Your Own Infographics (good resources!)
