kony 2012

Kony 2012 response 


The purpose of the campaign was primarily to raise awareness about Joseph Kony in order to get the US government to commit to locating and arresting him.  Joseph Kony is a rebel leader who has for 20 years abducted children in his quest to raise an army of boys, forced to kill others and their own families, whilst girls are raped and vilified and treated as sex slaves.  The campaign begins with the meeting of one American man and a African boy called Jacob, a victim of this monstrosity.  The American man whose name is Jason Russell, was touched by Jacobs story and begun a revolution to change the face of not only the issues surrounding Joseph Kony and his rebel mission but also the way that media can be used as a tool to change the world.

The effectiveness of the documentary is extraordinary and this is for several reasons.  Firstly it is based not only upon a true and emotionally touching issue and story but he also uses the plight of one individual boy that the viewer can then relate to on a personal level.  The documentary shows powerfully upsetting imagery that is often unseen in the media and touches a raw nerve.  It singles out the perpetrator as an invisible entity and makes you want to join the cause in finding him.  It touches on all of the disgusting facts that are relevant as a result of this one rebel.  It cleverly lets you know that the government were initially not able to help and then lets you watch as a powerful entity of people come together and begin a change and start a process of government turn around.  Then just at the right part of the film we see that organisations are born, 'the invisible children' and the 'TRI' and 'Kony 2012'.  There is a place therefore to pledge money, a charity organisation, a group that you as the viewer want to be part of.  They use a logo to great effect.  Music is used to heighten the emotion of the documentary.  There is a brilliant use of film and news footage to grasp your attention and keep you up to speed on the current state of affairs (at that time).  The use of celebrity endorsement was perfect in relating the young to a cause that was shared with important and familiar people.  Then the film gives you deadlines, a date to remember, this is well used to push for action and make things seem imminent and with urgency.  The film makes you care.  It feels like a revolution that you want to be part of and not just because you want Joseph Kony caught but because you want to be part of something great, something important and something that will change history.

My personal feelings about the documentary is that is was very poignant.  It made me want cry.  It caused an emotional response and I thought it got the point across with great affect.   I was driven to sign up, pledge money, join in.  It created a feeling that made me want to be part of it, part of finding this invisible rebel and getting him arrested.  I think that the film was genius.  It was perfectly put together and left no stone unturned in its quest to create a following, a worldwide following.  It has used the media to its full benefit and I hope that as a result their aim is met.  As soon as the docu had finished I found myself googling Joseph Kony to see if he had been arrested since.  I will now never forget his name.