I constructed my Prezi presentation over the grave effects cancer can have on young children, and the difference someone can make in their lives. My claim, put very simply, is that donations to any cancer research funds can save the lives of children; without it, more children will die.
My first image shows a child holding a stuffed animal with a grave look on his face, conveying his sadness and isolation. He is bald and in a hospital bed so the presence of cancer is obvious, which deepens this feeling and includes empathy for his neglect.
From there I have an arrow that points to a young child who has had brain surgery to remove a tumor. This is evident because he too is bald, and the scars are very vivid. There is a person with him in the background but he is looking up at the camera, and that eye contact between the melancholy child and the viewer provokes sadness, empathy and a sense of hopelessness.
The third image is of a child who is being attended to by a nurse. He is again bald to make the presence of cancer obvious, and this shows how much these children are put through. It is included to elicit feelings of worry and pity, because of the look on the child’s face.
From there my visual argument splits into two paths, designated by arrows. Each stop along the prezi now has two images juxtaposed, illuminating two different paths the children can take in their battle with cancer.
The first set of images has four donation cans picturing children on each can. There is money being put into those cans of four different types of currency. This path begins with the donation of money to cancer research. It is not out to provoke an emotion, but to relate to the audience the action necessary to help the kids. The image it is set in opposition to shows a child in a hospital bed whose face is in dismay, and the entire picture has a dark demeanor. It shows a child cancer patient being neglected and feeling dejected. This set of images is meant to make the audience begin to see they can do something about children with cancer.
The second set of images stem from an arrow from the donation picture and one from the picture of the little boy. The arrow from the donation picture points to a little girl who is smiling and has her arms raised, signifying victory. She has hair and the entire picture is very light. This picture is in direct opposition to the one of the little boy in the previous set of images, as this image provokes happiness, joy, enthusiasm, optimism, triumph and hope. The image underneath has the opposite effect. It shows a young cancer patient in declining critical condition, and the situation appears hopeless despite the presence of a doctor. This image is included to show desperation and hopelessness vs. the triumph of the above picture. The two paths are growing further apart from one another now.
The last set of images shows pictures of families with their loved ones outside of the hospital. The top picture, the one stemming from the donation jars and the girl with outstretched arms, shows a happy, smiling multi-generational family. This is meant to elicit feelings of joy, celebration and optimism. The kids in the picture are smiling, and clearly cancer free. The image below it, from the darker path, shows two men setting a casket down at a funeral. Since there are only two pallbearers it is clear the deceased is a child, and right over the casket you can see a young girl with a shocked look on her face. These two images represent the final stages the battle against cancer can lead you to, and harks back to the donation picture. At this point, I am trying to get the viewer to be thinking, “Can I go back and donate money at the beginning and save the bottom child?”
My purpose for this visual argument is to convey to viewers that cancer will not go away on its own; rather it will take the popular donations by everyone to kick this disease, and have everyone find that happy ending. The action I want people to take is to donate money to cancer research foundations to help prevent any child from being removed from their normal lifestyle. They should feel like they can give children back their childhood by donating money to foundations.
Photo Credits:
. Bourke, Happy child patient punching the air, http://www.wavebreakmedia.com/stock-video-footage-p-25812/Happy-child-patient-punching-the-air-.html, March 31, 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment