Comments on: International Human Rights Day and the Amnesty video http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/international-human-rights-day-and-the-amnesty-video/ PR, social media, communication for social change, marketing plans, communication strategies Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:53:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: lmighton http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/international-human-rights-day-and-the-amnesty-video/#comment-7254 lmighton Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:43:19 +0000 http://lmighton.wordpress.com/?p=275#comment-7254 Do I ever feel a bit naive. You know, someone once told me the word 'gullible' didn't exist in the dictionary, and I went and looked it up to show that it did. I'm afraid to say that's a true story. Wow, those are really insightful points about the 'You Are Powerful' video. I think you're absolutely right that the ad really speaks of the old model of development communication, which is more like 'westerners will rescue' rather than capacity-building. I wonder if that was debated prior to going ahead with producing the ad: one side arguing that they want the video to target people in wealthy countries, telling them they can make a difference with lobbying and advocacy even with situations that are far away and far different....the other side arguing that the video is condescending and insulting. Thanks. Do I ever feel a bit naive. You know, someone once told me the word ‘gullible’ didn’t exist in the dictionary, and I went and looked it up to show that it did. I’m afraid to say that’s a true story.

Wow, those are really insightful points about the ‘You Are Powerful’ video. I think you’re absolutely right that the ad really speaks of the old model of development communication, which is more like ‘westerners will rescue’ rather than capacity-building. I wonder if that was debated prior to going ahead with producing the ad: one side arguing that they want the video to target people in wealthy countries, telling them they can make a difference with lobbying and advocacy even with situations that are far away and far different….the other side arguing that the video is condescending and insulting. Thanks.

]]> By: 40brown http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/international-human-rights-day-and-the-amnesty-video/#comment-7253 40brown Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:55:38 +0000 http://lmighton.wordpress.com/?p=275#comment-7253 The people who are stepping in to help are actually digitally "placed" into those scenes. AI has done a great job with the editing! You can really tell on the scene where the man in the pink shirt opens the jail cell door....the movement of his hand does quite match. Its an interesting video, a great display of graphic skills, and I think it makes a nice statement. But for me, there are some problems. First of all, with the exception of the first guy, the whole video is images of white people stepping in to save the day.And they seem to have some kind of ability or protection that no one else has. Men, women and children are being oppressed, beaten, jailed, executed....but THESE men and women can step in and stop it? Is there something magical about being western? Don't you think the pregnant woman in the striped shirt or the woman in the red business suit would have been shot, or beaten? Why is it that these people can make changes that the others in the situations can't? I think I have a problem with the imagery...certainly not the main message, that we can do something. But then again...sign a petition? THAT's AI's suggestion? They are showing us images and displays of courage and bravery, tell us we can make a difference. Then they give us a petition to sign. An online petition at that. I don't know... not my favorite. Fantastic graphic imaging, lackluster advocacy. (In my opinion!) The people who are stepping in to help are actually digitally “placed” into those scenes. AI has done a great job with the editing! You can really tell on the scene where the man in the pink shirt opens the jail cell door….the movement of his hand does quite match.
Its an interesting video, a great display of graphic skills, and I think it makes a nice statement. But for me, there are some problems.
First of all, with the exception of the first guy, the whole video is images of white people stepping in to save the day.And they seem to have some kind of ability or protection that no one else has. Men, women and children are being oppressed, beaten, jailed, executed….but THESE men and women can step in and stop it? Is there something magical about being western? Don’t you think the pregnant woman in the striped shirt or the woman in the red business suit would have been shot, or beaten? Why is it that these people can make changes that the others in the situations can’t? I think I have a problem with the imagery…certainly not the main message, that we can do something. But then again…sign a petition? THAT’s AI’s suggestion? They are showing us images and displays of courage and bravery, tell us we can make a difference. Then they give us a petition to sign. An online petition at that. I don’t know… not my favorite. Fantastic graphic imaging, lackluster advocacy. (In my opinion!)

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