Emotional Media
Have students access the student chapter Emotional Media. Highlight to students the three emotional persuasion tools you’ve already looked at (words, images, story) and the additional one (music).
Have students watch the video Autumn Peltier’s Watermark (or project it for the whole class) and have students complete the first Structure Strip activity.
Next, have students watch the video Misunderstood and complete the second Structure Strip.
Take up the questions with the class:
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Autumn Peltier’s Watermark
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Misunderstood |
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| What information, facts or arguments are presented? | Autumn is an advocate for access to clean water because her community had a boil water advisory. This is an issue that affects many people and will affect many more. | You can film and edit videos on an iPhone and play them on a TV (if they both have AirPlay) |
| How does it use words to provoke an emotional reaction? | Autumn uses emotionally charged words like “ceremony” and “contaminated” that communicate the importance of her story and the issue. | Almost no words are used except for “A Harris Family Holiday” on the TV screen halfway through.
The words “family” and “holiday” provoke feelings relating to families and nostalgia. |
| How does it use images to provoke an emotional reaction?
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We see images of Autumn, a 13-year-old Anishinaabe teen from Wikwemikong First Nation, along with images of water and nature. In particular, we see a composite image of her and rushing water at the 8 second mark.
Autumn’s appearance, facial expressions and mannerisms make her seem very likeable and endearing.
The emotional effect is to make us like her and listen to what she says. |
The first half of the video is somewhat dark, grey and colourless. We see repeated images of a boy who is always looking at his phone. The rest of the family is doing winter activities such as making a snowman, but we don’t see them having much fun.
The second half is much brighter and more colourful. We see people having fun (throwing snowballs, making snow angels, etc.) and see lots of close-ups and shots where many family members are together. We see people kissing and crying from happiness. |
| How does it use music to provoke an emotional reaction?
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Music is relaxed, rhythmic acoustic guitar. It helps to make the overall feeling of the video inspiring instead of sad. | The music is slow and a bit sad in the first part of the video, with no lyrics. The music in the first section ends with discordant note, like someone hitting the wrong key on a piano, and then is silent until the video on the TV starts playing.
When the song starts again it has lyrics and a happier, nostalgic sound.
The effect is to make you sad in the first half and then relieved and emotional in the second half. |
Make sure to highlight the similarities and differences between the two videos, in particular:
- the difference in how much relies on emotional appeals relative to facts and arguments (Misunderstood relies almost totally on emotional appeals, while Autumn Peltier’s Watermark has a balance of emotion and facts/arguments)
- the difference in their purposes (Autumn Peltier’s Watermark is trying to get you to care about access to clean water, while Misunderstood is trying to get you to buy an iPhone.)