Examining "Evan" by "Sandy Hook Promise" by Tiankai Zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc You may want to watch it twice en-us 2018-02-27 17:18:57 UTC 2024-10-15 10:06:28 UTC hello@padlet.com Figure 1.The artist-Sandy Hook Promise. (Sandy Hook Promise, 2015) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236164547 2018-02-27 21:09:36 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236164547 Short film link-Evan tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236182281 2018-02-27 22:00:52 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236182281 Figure 2. Gun violence need to be pushed back. (Florida Today, 2010) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236193327 2018-02-27 22:45:21 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236193327 Synopsis of the short film tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236209799 Evan was a high school student who liked writing words on the desk in the library. He was eagerly trying to find out the new friend that continuously chatted with him through leaving words on the desk. When they finally recognized each other accidentally with excitement, they heard a gun shot. The world fell into silence. Reviewing the story with the camera, the film revealed some potential warning signs of the gun violence.]]> 2018-02-28 00:10:12 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236209799 Background of the artist tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236209992 The artist is a national non-profit organization based in Newton, Connecticut, called Sandy Hook Promise. It was “founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012”. Instead of being drowned into deep sorrow, they intended to turn the tragedy into a moment of transformation with “providing programs and practices that protect children from gun violence”. They firmly believe that “by uniting people of all beliefs and backgrounds who value the protection of children to take meaningful actions in their homes and communities, [they] will prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life”. Up to now, 2,228,268 people have joined the organisation to support the movement (About us, 2018).

]]> 2018-02-28 00:11:11 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236209992 The main message that the film conveys tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236210144 The main idea that the video conveys is to protest and prevent gun violence in schools. As many people don’t have a clear concept of gun violence; or they think that gun violence is away from their lives. The artist/organisation capitalize the plot of a sweet love in high school to create a believable, related and tangible story for the audience to digest and reflect(Beer, 2012). The video works as an art activism because it aims at generating “emotionally resonant experiences that lead to measurable shifts in power” (Why Artistic Activism, 2018). Through watching this short film, people are shocked by the sudden tragedy and begin to recognize what they can do prevent the gun violence.]]> 2018-02-28 00:12:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236210144 Figure 6. The gunman probably plan and practice beforehand. (Shutterstock, n.d.) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236215395 2018-02-28 00:42:42 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236215395 Figure 4. National Vigil for victims of gun violence. (gettyimages, 2017) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236216579 2018-02-28 00:50:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236216579 Figure 5. Where did active shooter incidents happen during 2000 to 2013. (CNN, 2017) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236216743 2018-02-28 00:51:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236216743 Figure 3. Gun violence archive in the US. (ABC News, n.d.) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236216992 2018-02-28 00:52:53 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236216992 Grief tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236223294 The video hits the audience’s emotional part intensively by letting the gun loaded as soon as the two students encounter with each other. Happiness and excitement ended up with the abrupt and harsh gun shot. The relation probably wouldn’t have a chance to develop. Not only in this film, gun shoots always happen unexpectedly and sink victims and their families into endless despair and grief in the real life. The audience are easy to be deeply affected by the sad atmosphere with the sudden silence. A strong question is raised in their mind immediately: how can the gun shot happen without any signs? This curiosity easily leads people to find out more about and pay attention to gun violence.]]> 2018-02-28 01:24:02 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236223294 Proximity tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236232950 The video illustrates that the potential gunman is closely around us with several camera shots. In the short film, the potential gunman is an ordinary student who shares the same library with Evan and has lunch at the table next to Evan's... We finally notice that the potential shooter is there whenever we see Evan. The potential risk is around the corner all the time. In 11 days tracked by ABC news, 1277 violent gun incidents resulted in 509 deaths in the US (Thomas et all, 2018). According to Figure 5, 24.4% of shooter incidents happened at schools in the US during 2000 to 2013. In another word, school was on the second highest risk of gun violence. Through these daily life scenes, the artist raises people’s alertness towards gun violence. 

]]> 2018-02-28 02:12:35 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236232950 Awareness tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236250248 The video capitalizes a huge contrast to signify people's unawareness of gun violence. On one side, Evan even successfully finds his "right girl" through inconspicuous notes on a table in the library and an unintentional signature on another student's book. On the other side, the potential shooter's announcement on the social network and his obvious gestures are totally neglected by his peers. The ironic contrast of the two sides reminds people that the signs of gun violence are not too difficult to discover. If people have awareness of it, gun violence is preventable. As shown in the film, in order to commit a successful shooting incident, the shooter needs both theoretical knowledge and real practice; and both of them take times. What’s more, according to the data, “80% of school shooters and 70% of individuals who completed suicides told someone of their violent plans prior to taking action, with no interventions being made to stop it” (Ahearn, 2016). The significant contrast informs people that they can take actions to prevent gun tragedies from happening if they have awareness of it.

]]> 2018-02-28 04:00:43 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236250248 Weakness--Motivation tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236255860 There is no evident weakness in this film. If I have to provide one, I think the audience may be curious about the motivation of the shooter which is not clearly presented in the film. There is one clue though. If the audience watched the video several times carefully, they may notice that there is a scene where two taller boys pull the headphone off from the potential shooter's head. Is the shooter being bullied? Is this the shooter's real motivation to commit the crime to all his peers? I am not sure. I think if the artist can provide more information about the shooting motivation, the audience can gain a more comprehensive understanding towards how to prevent gun violence.]]> 2018-02-28 04:40:31 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236255860 Figure 7. Gun & Firearm Iconography. (Chung. n.d.) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236256023 2018-02-28 04:41:28 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236256023 Figure 8. Stop Gun Violence (Lyla Paakkanen, n.d.) tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236256610 2018-02-28 04:46:42 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236256610 Conclusion tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236260314 I think in general, the video is successful in advocating the prevention of gun violence, because it touches the audience’s feelings with a resonant story, increases people’s alertness of gun violence and recalls people's awareness of preventing gun violence. Gun violence is preventable, but it is also a complex issue to consider. Giving attention to mental health may be another good approach as it cuts down the source of motivations. If negative emotions can be released in proper ways and aggressive actions are guided to pro-social behaviors, there might be less tragedies in our world.

]]> 2018-02-28 05:17:57 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236260314 Reference tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236564170
About us. (n.d.). In Sandy Hook Promise. Retrieved February 27, 2018, from                              https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/about#mission

Ahearn, C. (2016, December 12). The PSA that left us all shook. In Odyssey. Retrieved February 27, 2018, from https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-psa-that-left-us-shook

Beer, J. (2012, June 16). Why “Evan” Works: Behind The Incredible Sandy Hook Promise PSA. In Fastcompany. Retrieved February 27, 2018, from https://www.fastcompany.com/3066273/why-evan-works-behind-the-incredible-sandy-hook-promise-psa

Sandy Hook Promise. (Producer). (2016). Evan [Online video]. Retrieved March 1, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8syQeFtBKc&feature=youtu.be

Thomas, P., Sands, G., Cloherty, J., Date, J., Levine, M., & Taylor, A. (n.d.). Shots fired: gun violence in America. In ABC News. Retrieved February 27, 2018, from http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/deepdive/shots-fired-40573779

Why Artistic Activism. (n.d.). In The center for artistic activism. Retrieved February 27, 2018, from https://artisticactivism.org/why-artistic-activism/

Figure

Figure 1. Sandy Hook Promise. (2015). The artist-Sandy Hook Promise [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from   https://publichealthwatch.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/lawmakers-push-for-background-checks-after-victims-family-slams-craven-irresponsible-politicians-and-nra/ . In the public domain.

Figure 2. Florida Today. (2010). National Vigil for victims of gun violence [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from https://publichealthwatch.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/lawmakers-push-for-background-checks-after-victims-family-slams-craven-irresponsible-politicians-and-nra/ . In the public domain.

Figure 3. ABC News. (n.d.). Gun violence archive in the US [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/deepdive/shots-fired-40573779 . In the public domain

Figure 4. Gettyimages. (2017). National Vigil for victims of gun violence [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/event/national-vigil-for-victims-of-gun-violence-held-in-washington-775088055#/participants-take-part-in-a-candlelight-vigil-as-part-of-the-5th-picture-id887326280 . In the public domain.

Figure 5. CNN. (2017). Where did active shooter incidents happen during 2000 to 2013 [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/13/health/mass-shootings-in-america-in-charts-and-graphs-trnd/index.html . In the public domain.

Figure 6. Shutterstock. (n.d.). The gunman probably plan and practice beforehand [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/27/teachers-hands-are-for-writing-on-the-board-not-holding-up-a-gun/ . In the public domain.

Figure 7. Kenny Chung. (n.d.). Gun & Firearm Iconography [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from  http://ad-shark.com/infographics/gun-violence-statistics/ . In the public domain.

Figure 8. Lyla Paakkanen. (n.d.). Stop Gun Violence [Online image]. Retrieved Feb 28th, 2018, from          https://creativeaction.network/products/stop-gun-violence-by-lyla-paakkanen . In the public domain. 

]]> 2018-02-28 18:03:07 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/236564170 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241185142 2018-03-13 02:32:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241185142 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241188149 2018-03-13 02:56:22 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241188149 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241188235 2018-03-13 02:57:03 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241188235 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241191975 2018-03-13 03:20:14 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241191975 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241192423 2018-03-13 03:22:50 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241192423 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241192496 2018-03-13 03:23:21 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241192496 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241192872 2018-03-13 03:25:23 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241192872 tiankai_zhang https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241198769 2018-03-13 04:03:19 UTC https://padlet.com/tiankai_zhang/8zhhc23pkuwc/wish/241198769