When we had the first reading
assignment, the video above was suggested from one of the youtube videos that
we had to watch. I don’t want to spoil it for you guys so I won’t go into the
contents, but be aware that it might not be the most pleasant video to watch. I
apologize if it’s not.
Something to ponder while watching
the video: What techniques (ways) did the creator of the video use to deliver
their message? Was any of the techniques effective? What do you think is their
intention(s) of making this video?
I am responding to this post using blog prompt 7. Actually I have to say that it was not a very pleasant experience watching this video but I believe that this video would impressed viewers more than most of other anti-smoking videos. At the beginning of the video, we saw a man with a hole on his throat coughing. Then the man describes how hard it was to quit smoking and what his feelings when he was diagnosed to have cancer. The voice of Steve showed now it is even hard for him to talk. In stead of just telling people about the harm of smoking, the creator directly showed the viewers of the possible result which is throat cancer. Unlike the drugs, the harm of tobacco always ignored by the public. Through this video, the creator conveys the idea that people should never underestimate the health hazard in the tobacco. Therefore I believe this video would change viewers' opinion and make them start to reconsider the deadly disease smoking may bring.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Zicong Wang, I agree with his/her point of views. The advertisement was an incredibly disturbing experience to endure, due to the harsh realism that it brought to the audience. Clearly, "truth.com" was attempting to discourage people from using tobacco products in general by depicting our character, Steve, with the troubles he has to go through on a daily basis and having him discuss the utter despair he feels from this hell he caused. This video does not portray any opinion on recreational drugs, but perhaps an issue just as important. It's authentic view of what may happen to a long-time smoker definitely makes a person think about whether or not they ought to continue, quit, pick up, or ignore tobacco products.
DeleteThis video is very moving and can change the viewers opinion on smoking. By using a true account of what can result from smoking, Truth.com used ethos in this video to get their point across. Upon reading the comments, it is evident that this video has made an impact. People have commented statements such as, "I feel so bad for the guy" and "I'm stopping." This shows that Truth.com was successful at trying to encourage people to stop smoking.
DeleteI definitely agree that this video is using a worst case scenario to discourage people from using tobacco. The shock value of this ad makes it very powerful and at the same time extremely hard to watch. I believe this is a great way to get people who already use tobacco to think again about the decision they have made. I however disagree that the effects of tobacco are still widely ignored. With the addition of bans on smoking in restaurants and other public areas, I believe the public is becoming more and more aware of the negative side effects of smoking.
DeleteI agree that the video was successful in affecting peoples mood and thoughts. Many of the comments mention how uneasy it made them feel and how it was difficult to watch. Showing the direct results of smoking makes it so people who smoke or want to smoke have to think twice about it and acknowledge the harms rather than easily dismiss them like many do when warned. Having the image of a hole in a person's throat allows viewers to put themselves in that position and think, "Do I really want to do this?"
DeleteI can never imagine what a person feels if he or she has throat cancer. That is really sad and terrible.And personally, I think this video is successful because it can encourage people to keep away from smoking even though some scenes in the video are too astonishing.
DeleteI am responding to this video using prompt 2. There are many arguments going on throughout the comments on this particular video. Three of the big arguments are if the audience feels bad or doesn't feel bad for Steve, why the use of tobacco has yet to be banned by the government, and finally about the age at which people start smoking. Unfortunately, not a lot of the comments on the video have any sort of back up to their statements about how they feel about the video and why they took the side they did. A majority of the comments are based strictly off pathos and their immediate emotional response to the video. However, one commenter backs up their argument as to why the government doesn't ban smoking, by using the economic benefits of people smoking.
ReplyDeleteOne extremely controversial comment that most other viewers found rude was that the hole in Steve's neck was "cool". the responses to this comment are very vulgar and passionate, which shows that although a lot of people disagree on whether or not they should feel bad for the subject, most people agree on the fact that he is in a terrible situation. Overall, this video raised extremely controversial comments and views over the subject of tobacco use.
Prompt 7: This video was not easy to watch but it was definitely one of the most influential non- smoking videos I have seen. The immediate shock from the images is bound to stay in the viewer’s conscious and potentially deter people from smoking, which is the main goal of the video. The video also uses pathos to enhance the argument. The video pulls at the viewer’s emotions and tries to make them feel sympathy for the smoker. No one would want this to happen to themselves or their family members and images like these could persuade them to change their ways. By making the viewers feel sympathetic, the director is able to draw their attention more easily. The idea of shock was also a key element in this video. By showing such an uncommon and potentially disturbing image, the director allows the audience to decide if the consequences of smoking are worth it without explicitly saying, “Do not smoke.” The use of shocking images is the fundamental strategy used in this piece and it is effectively and could possibly scare people away from smoking.
ReplyDeletePrompt 7: I have seen videos like this starting to pop up on tv and for me, they are extremely difficult to watch. I believe this is both a good and bad rhetorical strategy. Usually when the commercials come on tv, I would just change the channel, making it ineffective. But when sitting through this video, it is hard to ignore the physical state this person is in. Showing how he has to talk and laugh through machine now because of his smoking evokes an emotional response from the viewer and causes them to be both uncomfortable and sympathetic. This would definitely cause someone who smokes to think twice about their decision.
ReplyDelete