Throughout the formation of this blog I have come across a variety of artifacts relating to animal adoption. Although these artifacts are very different in form, a majority of them share a tone of sadness. I personally became tired of these routine artifacts. I went on a search for something that was different. In reality, the idea of animals without homes is tragic, and it seemed to me that was the only way it could be portrayed. My thoughts were proven wrong when I came across a video that gave me a different type of feeling than the others: Happiness.
Wait... did that kitten just speak?..
,The Animal Humane Society, an organization that aids companion animals in need, has a YouTube channel where they post videos to inspire people to do something to help shelter animals from adoption to volunteering. One of their videos titled “I want..” is an ad promoting the adoption of cats. The video shows cats of all shapes and sizes saying one thing they want. Yes, that’s right, the cats in this video are talking. The things the cats want range from a warm belly to sleep on to things as simple as love. Once the cats are done sharing their want’s, The Animal Humane Society shares with us that in the year 2010 over 30,000 companion animals came to their shelters. Out of that 30,000, 20,000 of them were felines. The video ends with AHS asking for viewers to team up with them by helping to find homes for these animals.
The major argumentative tool used in this video is choice. In Thank You For Arguing, Jay Heinrich explains that choice deals with issues that regard the future. The Animal Humane Society gives the audience a choice; Either help some of the 20,000 felines in their midst find a home, or to do nothing.
The AHS is using choice in this video like a child who dropped their delicious lollipop on the ground. Imagine this: You’re babysitting an adorable little girl whose source of happiness at the moment is a cherry blow pop. Everything is going perfect but the world is turned upside down within seconds when the little one drops her candy right on the ground. Cries erupt from the once joyous little girl, and you can’t help but feel bad. She didn’t do anything to deserve the loss of that lollipop. The continuous cries snap you back to reality, and now you must make a choice. You can either ignore the girl’s mourning and attempt to soothe her for the rest of the day, or you can take the trip to the gas station down the street and buy a new treat for her. You’re feeling lazy and think to yourself “This will pass eventually, besides her mom will be home soon and then it won’t be my problem anymore.” although that would be the easy way out, the trip to the convenient store is obviously the right thing to do. After watching the video, the easy thing to do would be to continue browsing the internet and act as if you never say the video, but after seeing how innocent the cats are you know the right thing to do is find more information on how to help. By using choice, the Animal Humane Society forces us to make a decision. The right choice is made blatantly obvious: take action.
trust than an organization like the AHS that has been around since 1878? This organization makes us believe that they have the tools to accomplish the goal of finding a home for animals.
Let’s pretend that your best friend decides to run for president. Although you would totally trust them with your life and you guys agree on everything, you definitely wouldn't trust her with the lives of millions of Americans. The American Humane society has been perfecting their craft for over a decade. They chose to speak out on animal adoption because they know exactly how to handle it. The use of practical wisdom is entirely necessary in a situation like this. In order for an audience to take action after watching the video, they first must trust who put it together.
This kind of ethos can be observed on the streets of major cities. You’re walking down the block on a busy city day when you see and man on the curb with a sign that says “Homeless, anything helps. God bless.” and you immediately turn in the other direction to save yourself from the water works that would follow if you were to get any closer. On your detour you come across a women playing the most beautiful music you've ever heard and you stop to listen. Before you leave you put a five in her tip jar.
The American Human Society chooses to play beautiful music instead of holding up a heart breaking sign. If the AHS were to have made their video sad many viewers would have been lost because of it. The joy of the video draws viewers in and inclines them to take action by the end. Pathos is a very tool important when it comes to getting an audience to take action and the AHS plays it just the right way.
Much too often are Ads on this subject matter downright sad and make us feel guilty in some way. Ads that induce joy and laughter are few and far between. The topic of homeless pets is defenitley not one to be taken lightly, but the AHS has given the situation a rather light tone by bringing such happiness through a very deep subject. The true meaning of this video isn't lost at all through the tone, instead it is enhanced.
We can't forget how sweet and fun these animals are and the argumentative tools that the AHS has used make it impossible to ignore. Readers, we must do our part to keep the happiness behind shelter animals alive. It's as simple as sharing the link to the video above. Remember, a smile can go a long way, whether it's on a humans face or animated on a cats face.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
ArchivesCategories |