Graphics
How do images improve the overall message?
Throughout history, people have grown to prefer images over large amounts of words. Sometimes the message has had less importance than the media used to deliver the message.
In the case of Chanie Wenjack, the film "Secret Path" by Gord Downie, has animation included images. The purpose of these images was to show the audience what Chanie was possibly going through. You were able to identify multiple graphics; for example, Chanie had run away from residential camps and had been walking in the cold, in pain. Images implants themselves into our brains, which helps us to process the information.
In the image beside, you can see that Chanie is walking on the railway. As he is walking, two memories cross his mind; he and his father fishing and the long terrible nights at residential school. How would you infer what Chanie Wenjack was going through? We can tell that these memories are what pushed him to get home. To walk that 600km, so that he can see that smile on his father's face again. Only he didn't make that journey.
The pleasant memory is filled with colors, while the awful memory has dull colors. Our brain knows that images that have more bright colors tend to be a happy image. The ones that have next to no colors pose to be upsetting images. All the graphics in the story of Chanie Wenjack held it's own story, and the pushed to tell the audience that what he went through was completely incorrect and injustice to the indigenous people.
Music
What is the importance of music in a message?
When you hear that one song, how do you feel? Every song holds it's own meaning. We have those happy songs that remind us of the time we saw our best friend. Or we have those sad songs where we remember that one person that left us. People can express all types of emotions through each flow and rhythm.
Gord Downie was responsible for writing and singing the music for the film Secret Path. Every song in this film had its own story. Some of the songs were called The Stranger, Swing Set, Seven Matches, Son, and Secret Path. Just from seeing the titles of these songs, what prediction could you make?
Lyrics from the song "Son" and "The Only Place To Be" had an emotional touch, just like all the other songs.
"Son. When you dance I'll be on your shoulder and you'll feel it" ~ Son
"I'll just close my eyes. I'll just catch my breath. This is the only place to be. I've got lots of time, my whole life ahead" ~ The Only Place To Be
When someone reads those lyrics, you would think it's a joyful moment, but in this case, it had heartbreak. Indigenous children were forced to leave their parents, and the families couldn't grieve properly. The songs "Son" and "The Only Place To Be" tells a story, the story of Chanie Wenjack and how he lost the freedom to be himself. The singer is narrating to the world, what the government stole from Chanie family, and how it wasn't just one child, but multiple.
Anyone can read an article and learn about the message, but the music lets you make that emotional connection. Without music in this film, we wouldn't be able to understand what it means to lose your rights. Words can do a lot, but it's the rhythm and beat that makes it more meaningful.
(access the songs below)
Conversation
How does talking about issue help communicate the message better?
Who wants to sit a read a boring article about an issue? Wouldn't you rather see people talk about the issue and ask questions? To have the best understanding of a message, you should talk about it. A video conversation is also a type of medium and is a better option than an article.
The articled released on February 1, 1967, by Ian Adams called "The lonely death of Chanie Wenjack" was to inform the people of what happened. But once people read it, did they think about what happened? It took three decades after this article was released to close the residential school. Of course, this unfortunate loss wouldn't have caused lots of havoc back in the day, but if people possibly talked about this, there could've been more awareness.
Media plays an important role in raising awareness. In the film, they had a panel discussion at the end. They were able to discuss the terrors of residential and the impact it had on thousands of kids. During the panel, one of the questions was about the powerful impact the film had on others, and one person responded, "this was one of the most powerful films to educate people on what happened to Chanie." He also said that it helped tell the world about the scared bonds and belief's that residential school broke for many families.
This medium helped with identifying what people felt towards the issue. When people can hear other opinions, they can relate. They are more prone to making those connections and have a better, more depth understanding of what went on. It's harder to wrap your head around something your reading, but if someone is sitting their explaining it to you, we are able to absorb the information and hopefully make some change.
