In light of the weekend we are heading into, I thought it would be appropriate to analyze some of the rhetorical techniques used in what I find to be a very strong promotional video for THON. The video, entitled "THON 2012 - Don't Waste One Minute", is a video that I've seen a few times and each time, it manages to have a powerful effect on me. For one, it shows the BJC full of students in various sections wearing very bright colors. The overall purpose of this in THON as well as the video is to portray happiness.
The song in the background is also very powerful. This song is "Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol. The actual meaning of the song pertains to a couple in love, but something is keeping apart. The man wants the women to open her eyes to realize their love so they don't have to waste any more time apart. However, in relation to THON, the meaning is slightly different. Basically, we, the Penn State community, need to open our eyes and realize that we are all needed. There are so many families out there that truly love Penn State for THON, and we can't waste one minute forgetting that. We all have to realize that every minute that we devote to THON truly counts which is an extremely important idea to get across.
Moreover, the text that is displayed on the screen displays an important message. It shows us how important we can be to the families. It shows us that we can truly make their lives just a little bit better and that we can make a difference. The fact that the message is spanned throughout the entire promo helps maintain emotion and attention for the entire video.
Lastly, the constant joy you see on the faces of everyone, especially the kids, makes it clear that THON actually works. It is not "just a number". It is so much more than that. It is the gift of hope. The gift of brightening the days of children and families who deserve a little brightness in their lives. This joy that can be seen on their faces has such a strong emotional effect. The video employs the use of pathos to an amazing extent and I can't wait to experience this emotion firsthand starting tomorrow.
I also wrote about THON this week. It's a truly amazing event, and the video does a great job of showcasing the sheer magnitude of it. The BJC is filled for a weekend with people dancing all over the place to raise money for cancer research. The scope of what is done is really just incredible. I've read many stories about children and families that were effected by THON and whose lives have changed for the better because of it. It makes me proud to go to Penn State.
ReplyDeleteI found that video very powerful as well. I find every THON video I watch to be extraordinarily powerful. After experiencing my first THON this weekend, I truly understand what these videos mean and how emotional the event really is. I had the lucky chance of getting on the dance floor and it was so inspiring to see all these other students putting their bodies up to the tough challenge for such a selfless act. I've heard a wide range of opinions about what be think about THON, and a lot of people tend to forget about the goal and main reason for the event, that it is for the kids. I know how cliche that sounds but it is so true. I physically witnessed some of the THON children interacting with students and dancing and that it when I realized that it really is all about the kids.
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