1) Current communication tools and techniques used to bring attention to issues are photojournalism and blogs/message boards. Photojournalism is using images to create a story, and to use that story to impact others or bring attention to a cause. Blogs/message boards are tools for people who share similar opinions about a certain issue t discuss it, and eventually inspire and influence the emotions and actions of people who read the blog/message board. Borges, a photojournalist, describes his photojournalism by saying "I like to tell the story through people, Through their eyes and faces...I tell the stories of heroes..." (Goulet 1). Burtynsky, another photojournalist, hopes his photojournalism "[allows] the viewer to confront these places and begin a dialogue...to ask what is this author trying to tell me" (Goulet 1). These photojournalists use techniques in the photos they take to cause the reader to ask themselves questions and further influence their thoughts.
2) I think visual forms of communication are more likely to reach and impact viewers worldwide for example, it's easier to emphasize with someone on a picture when you can see what they're going through, as opposed to reading about it. You can read an article about someone suffering, but you won't feel as bad as if you've seen a picture of the same person suffering. Alice Rose George says it best when she says "People see a picture long before they read. It influences how they understand (what they read)" (Goulet 1). An example is how the author of the article, Nancy Goulet, responds to a photo she sees "Is he contemplating? Is he caught in a fantasy? A memory? What have those beseeching eyes seen during his short life to leave such a haunting expression" (Goulet 1.) The photo was obviously very effective in causing Goulet to experience emotions and thoughts.
3) People who are adept with technology and skilled in visual design are free to use their abilities however they please, but they should realize how valuable of an asset they would be to helping a cause , or getting a point across. I wouldn't say they have a responsibility to use their skills to create awareness or peace, but they should acknowledge that their skills could make a huge impact in the world. Those who choose to take on the responsibility of being a photojournalist "have the responsibility to execute a message and make the message much more powerful" (Goulet 1). Photojournalism can be a very rewarding career, for example, Edward Burtynsky, a photojournalist, won the TED prize, and "was awarded a $100,00 purse and granted resources and support for three wishes to better the world" (Goulet 1).
4) My "Make a Statement" project can create awareness or peace or social change because it brings up an important issue: lack of free health care for those who don't who don't already have it. It makes people without health care wonder if they should be receiving free health care. More specifically, US citizens who don't have health care should be really influenced by my statement. After all, why should the live in a free country, and not receive free health care? The purpose of my statement was to "was to compel you to creating awareness of a situation you pass by everyday without notice" (Goulet 1). Referencing the article, my statement had a "strong, clear and consistent voice" (Goulet 1). I conveyed my message clearly and simply. My statement could cause US citizens who don't have free health care, and are eligible for it, to become aware of this problem, and actually try to receive health care.
