Thinking Out Loud: Celebrity Influence and Social Protest
Whew! I just completed by rhetorical analysis of celebrity influence and the DAPL protest. It was interesting research...well, to me.
I concluded that most celebrities involved themselves in this protest with the best of intentions; they truly wanted to help save the environment, cause Energy Transfer Partners to go out of business, raise awareness of Native Rights... you name it. The problem was they were ignoring the message created by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, to protect their sacred sites and water supply. Instead, we have Mark Ruffalo using the protest as a background for his call for renewable energy. We have Shailene Woodley using Native Americans as props to make herself look good (I am pretty sure she is the type of person who loves to be involved in drama and be the center of attention). We have Neil Young singing about the protest and (this is the best), his video features palm trees. In North Dakota! I love it. We have former presidential candidate Jill Stein using the protest to show supporters she loves the earth, so much so that she will get arrested for it. Susan Sarandon and Jane Fonda pulled their money from banks that fund ETP and encouraged me to do the same (I couldn't stop laughing when I considered the very small amount of money I have in the bank. I am sure I have ETP quaking in their boots). But all of these people did not really help the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Additionally, the tribe is at fault for letting these celebrity image events occur. Granted, they were placed in a difficult situation. They could send away all celebrities - be gone with you! But then they lose the media attention that follows a celebrity. So they had no choice but to allow non-informed individuals become spokespeople for their cause.
So what do we do now? I have no idea. Celebrities use their fame to spread messages about their passion - be it renewable energy or homeless veterans. They are aware of their power to raise awareness. However, they need to be considerate to those they are attempting to help. In this case, they simply caused the media to change the message they are publishing. Rather than continuing to make sacred sites and water protection the dominant message, the media turned their attention to renewable energy or the environment. Similar to the original message, but certainly not the same.
Neil Young "Indian Givers." Look closely at the background, especially around 2:25. Palm trees!
For now I can prep this research for publication and hope for the best. I will share the link if published. Fingers crossed!
Note: this is a personal weblog and all posts are my opinion. Unless information is appropriately cited, everything I say is to be considered nothing more than ramblings as I conduct research.
