Animation and Social Experiences

Animation can play an important part in Mass Communication (Mass Media). Suggested Reading - The Media students book. Animation and Mass Communication combines elements of Film and Graphical Communication so the message is easily communicated such as still images e.g. posters.


Hyperdermical needle of Mass Media implants opinions and meaning in audiences minds for example looking at propaganda such as World War 2.

This is an excellent poster for showing how mass media works and the Hyperdermical needle. This poster is easily visually translated even though its in a different language. the composition of colour changes meaning. Hitler is frail and weak. Although its in another language we still visually understand it.

Animation became apart of Mass Media easily because it seems a "fun" "childish" harmless way of putting a view across more people will be open to the opinion. E.g. Winsor McCay's, Lusitania 1918 was a way to show support in america joining WW1.

Also Warner Brothers were commissioned to create Private SNAFU  very simple childlike approach to putting telling illiterate soldiers how to act. Its almost patronising, didactic but unobvious. Animation can use unrealistic ways to put a point across e.g. Hitler is literally a Devil. The whole film is a song and is teaching by doing it wrong.

Advertisement and Animation was also a big thing e.g. Otto Mesmer advertised Pepsodent in 1950 using animation which made it more innocent and watchable to a younger audience especially with the music.

On the other hand Animation has had its ways through satire to put their own point across e.g. Jiri Trnka Ruka (The Hand) 1965 it has a secret meaning of the Hand being the law. I thought this was very interesting, How it is obvious what the animation is about however it can never be proved by people who don't agree with the animation.

Its also not all bad because it can be used to put a point across in a good way such as A is for Autism by Tim Webb who created this animation for people to be more aware of autism and to give the audience more information about it making something more well known.

This animation was very well done and I really like the approach. It created an experiences for the audience helping understand the issues possibly putting the audience in their shoes. It kind of make me think in the mind of an autistic person which I really liked.