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Self-Portrait Propaganda Poster




    The social issue I chose for my propaganda poster is rhino poaching. I chose this issue because rhinos are a critically endangered species with less than 30,000 rhinos living in the wild today. At the start of the 20th century, there were over 500,000. Rhino horns are used in traditional Asian (Vietnam and China) medicine and used as a status symbol among the middle and upper classes of Vietnam. So, why should we save the rhinos? 

    Rhinos play a crucial role in their ecosystem. They are grazers and consume large amounts of vegetation, which helps shape the African landscape. This benefits other animals and keeps a healthy balance within the ecosystem. Furthermore, local people depend on the natural resources within the rhino habitat for food, fuel, and income (tourism). Therefore, if we save the rhinos we’re not only benefiting other wildlife but also supporting local communities and their future generations.

   The rhino horn is made of keratin, a protein also found in human hair and fingernails. The keratin is used in Asian medicine but there is no scientific evidence that it is beneficial as a remedy. I decided to incorporate this concept into my poster by having a rhino scalping my hair with its horn. This not only makes the connection between the keratin found in rhino horns and human hair but also provokes the viewer to think of what rhinos have to go through. If humans were being scalped and killed for their hair to be used as medicine or a trophy, there would be severe outrage. 

    I then had the rhino be vocalized by putting a text box that says "I am not your trophy or medicine". I got this idea from a rhino poaching awareness poster I found online (look below). The color theme I chose included grey (rhino), red (blood), brownish (my skin tone), emerald green (background), and black (font, hair e.t.c). I made my hoodie grey to symbolize the position I played as a rhino being poached. I made the background emerald green because it contrasted well against the red of the blood and my skin tone. The font I used is called Bernard MT Condensed and I choose it because it looked stern and sturdy, which helps communicate the seriousness of the message. 

    I think what makes my piece successful is that it provoke pathos within the viewer by forcing them to put themselves in the position of the rhino. Once in that position, the viewer is able to see that my stance on this issue needs to be supported. 


Original Photo:


Inspiration:

Comments

  1. nico.baker9 November 2020 at 12:47

    I love how clear your message is and the approach you took to the project. Your color scheme is bold and fits the message of the poster. And switching the roles of poacher and poached was very effective. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kylie Odonnell29 November 2020 at 09:46

    I absolutely love this work you created. I think all your work is so amazing and you clearly have a lot of talent. This work is one of my favorites of yours. I think this is so created and makes the viewer understand and care about the message. Switching the roles of yourself and the Rhinos was brilliant.

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