This project helped me understand the topic I had to decide to learn about a lot more. As I
delved into researching, my main motive overall was to convey a powerful message that informs
the audience of the effects of environmental degradation and the actions we need to take. I also
planned to take on an optimistic tone, to help symbolize hope. I also understood that the audience
of the presentation could be viewed as someone who would be assumed to not know much about
the topic presented. As a result, I attempted to be informative as possible, as well as treating the
audience as “the community”, to help empathize with public awareness and the role of the
public.
Again, the driving force behind this remix was to help spread and share the information
I’ve gathered into a visually engaging format via a presentation. By using visual evidence, I
wanted to support my claim with proof to help get out to the audience that it is credible. Each
visual image had a distinct purpose within the presentation; it served as a catalyst for conveying
complex concepts and helped enhance the understanding of the audience. Furthermore, I also
wanted to spark an “interest” in the audience, as it had done with me when I was a child. To do
this, I needed to portray a sense of urgency and the need to take action before it’s too late.
Growing up as a child, as I had stated in the presentation, I always had an interest in the
environment and the world as a whole. Knowing that Earth was being damaged due our own
actions, and that one day it could eventually become irreparable, always stuck with me. Hence,
knowing this, I aimed to evoke a similar sense of concern in the audience to help emphasize the
necessity to take action. Moreover, by doing this, it’s also an exemplification of public
awareness, as that is arguably the most important tool for advancing an agenda of any type. One
of the first images I used was of a before and after image of a coral reef, and this was done to
illustrate the pressing need to help mitigate the effects of habitat degradation. Coral reefs are
known for being very beautiful and innocent, and to see them being destroyed due to human
activities showcases the effects of our own actions. I used this specific image to serve not only as
a poignant representation of the environmental ramifications, but as well as to urge the audience
to recognize their potential role in helping to save the environment.
The remix process also helped me reveal connections within the research I did that I had
not originally known. With the visual representation, I was able to actually understand how the
topics I had discussed could be visualized and come to life. The emphasis on the
assertion-evidence model helped me understand each of the topics more by actually having to
use visual images to back up the arguments with text. Through the assertion-evidence model, I
also learned about how effective it really is at conveying information as opposed to simply a
research paper. With a research paper, you can only use text to emphasize the overarching
message you are trying to convey. But in ctornast, with this specific model, I can utilize visual
evidence to help augment my goals and arguments. I am able to apply the information I have and
help convey it to the audience to help spread the urgency of habitat restoration.
Overall, the remixing process was very prominent, as it helped distill a lot of information
into a visual narrative, which allowed my message much easier to understand and empathize
with.