Social Issue Project Proposal

1. The social issue that I'm going to build my advertising campaign around is the glorification of depression in hollywood and other forms of mass media. Many movies and books that contain depression and suicide make it seem desirable to the viewer or reader, which in turn causes them to actually inhabit the mental disorder themselves, and this is something that I don't like. In addition, the depression of a lot of famous celebrities such as Robin Williams, Whitney Houston, and Winona Rider have been exploited through tabloids and the news, in some cases even after the disorder had taken their lives. Depression isn't a joke. It isn't something to be desired, or glorified, or romanticized, and I hope to advocate the end of this depression culture that some movies, books, and media heavily advertise.
2. My personal reason for choosing this is mostly because I think it's wrong. I know a lot of people who have struggled with depression, and I've seen the effects of it. I've seen how this encouragement of depression from movies, books, and other media can further depress people who struggle with it already, and I've seen people actually become depressed simply because current popular culture makes it cool.
3. People should be concerned about this because depression and suicide rates among teens and adults alike are fast on the rise, and I do believe that this is in part because of how popular culture has kind of changed to make it seem desirable. Movies and books like "The Fault in Our Stars," or "Silver Linings Playbook," and websites like Tumblr have made bad situations seem romantic, and in turn teens want to put themselves in those situations. And it may seem just like an artificial type of depression at first, but after a while it is real, and I hate to see people ruin themselves like that. 
4. I hope to motivate people by just showing how dumb it is to want that and show that depression isn't something to be desired. It's not romantic or pleasantly melancholy like how it is in the movies, it is a disease.
5. There aren't any non-profit organizations specifically associated with this cause, but there are a few articles about it, and some organizations that deal with just depression like the ADAA (Anxiety Disorders Association of America) and ASFP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). One article I found on the subject from the atlantic that describes it pretty well is here. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/social-media-is-redefining-depression/280818/

Social Issue Advertising Campaigns

1. Alzheimer's awareness

Even though this isn't a photographic example, it still is a very clever design to spread awareness. The concept in this ad and the issue that it stands behind work perfectly together. It is a memory stick that is disguised as an eraser, and Alzheimer's is a disease that erases memory. This advertisement makes the issue known to people through general office supplies, and I think it's brilliant.

2. Domestic Violence due to drinking

I also think this ad is very effective and creative. It makes you think about the issue while you actually are in the situation. This is the kind of ad that makes you keep thinking about it as you keep drinking and hits you where it needs to.

3. Gun Violence

The way that this was shot really gets the point across, and kind of has that shock factor that these types o ads need to have. The technical factor in this is great, and the concept makes you stop and look and think about it.

LIST OF SOCIAL ISSUES

• Drinking and driving
• Drug abuse
• Diversity (tattoo stigma example)
• Abortion
• Mixed families (culture)
• smoking
• gun rights
• cliques
• stereotypes
• police brutality
• bullying
• environmental concerns
• cyber bullying
• cancer awareness
• discrimination
• gender bias
• animal abuse
• child soldiers
• teen pregnancy
• slave workers (child labor)
• technology dependence (go outside)
• hunger/ poverty
• cyber terror
• obesity (health and eating)
• eating disorders
• texting and driving
• religion
• food inc
• child abuse/ domestic violence
• divorce
• stress
• depression/ mental disorders
• suicide
• terrorism
• immigration
• 
  

Photojournalism- CV Speech & Debate Shuts Down Dallastown

CV Speech & Debate Shuts Down Dallastown

By: Dan Williamson  11/22/14

 In the room of a fierce argument, Cumberland Valley coach and judge, Ann Pickering, stands immersed in the final decision of the policy debate before her.         

            Upon arrival at Dallastown High School, the Cumberland Valley speech and debate team was faced with all sorts of jitters and shivers, but not just from the brisk November morning. Nerves ran high throughout those competing in the tournament, and tension filled the atmosphere, hidden beneath the smell of coffee and freshly printed documents. For nearly three months, some more than that, the speech and debate team at Cumberland Valley had been building and preparing for debates or presentations, and this was their first chance for application. Dallastown, the first Saturday tournament of the year, was here. Some mundane, cliché announcements were made, and it was time to start round 1. And with that, a collective increase in heart rate signified that the pressure was on.

            “Don’t interview me,” said Pooja Saiganesh, senior Lincoln-Douglas debater, demonstrating precisely the blunt emotions felt by every competitor. They were stressed and anxious, but excited to put all the hard work to good use, and they were hopeful. Every student debating or speaking was in the zone. “It’s very stressful at times. You can definitely feel that in the room, for sure, but in the end, it is what it is, and you power through it. It’s fun,” said spectator Ami Patel (12), summing up the emotional process that comes with the debating and speaking experience. “Debate is the real-time clash of researched and deeply considered ideas around topics vitally important to our world and our lives today,” stated CV speech and debate coach and tournament judge, Ann Pickering. “Debaters and speech makers are challenged to confront these current controversies, to find solutions, to say something important in well-articulated ways and to perform under the pressure of a competition.”

            Although the pressure was felt, for Cumberland Valley it was not shown. CV came home winning first and second place in policy debate, first in extemporaneous speech, and first, second, and third place in original oratory speaking. This had them scoring the most points of overall in the tournament as well, and taking home the Dallastown trophy that evening. Senior debater Sammie Paul says quite honestly, “Debate is a great way to get extracurricular activities on your resume, yes, but it teaches you a new way of thinking that you don’t really get in school, and it’s hard—it takes dedication—but it’s very rewarding as we saw today.”

 Before the start of the tournament, CV organizes their materials, preparing for an eventful day full of victories.

     Nervously fiddling with their fingers, students wait in anticipation, minutes before the start of the next round.

 Confident about her recent debate, Anusha San (11), is all smiles while reorganizing her files.

 In a moment of contemplation, senior Lincoln-Douglas debater, Sammie Paul, re-thinks her case during some down times between debates.

 Senior policy debate team Amanda Smith (left), and Cody Madison (right) confidently pack up their evidence after a heated debate.

Dallastown Tournament Gallery