Through her website, Kinjal delves into the importance and value of climate change documentaries in inspiring social and environmental action. Through a series of detailed articles and captivating photographs, Kinjal creates a space on the internet to learn more about climate change and what everyday people can do to make a difference.
Kinjal’s website delves into the impact of climate change documentaries both on the viewer, the environment, and the future. To explore her website in detail please visit: https://kinjalgupta2021.wixsite.com/my-site-1
When a visitor first enters the website, Climate is Changing. Why Aren’t We? they are brought to the home page. Immediately, they are shown vibrant photographs of nature with a variety of different menus and options for exploring the site.
The top of the homepage showcases a featured post. This post is titled:
“Documentary Films and Pro-Environmental Behaviour
With more and more people watching documentaries on global warming, it is important to understand how these films influence thoughts…”
Underneath the featured post are three different coloured sections that contain fast and digestible facts. These read:
“According to United Nations (n.d.), the top ten largest emitters of greenhouse gases contribute to about 68% of global emissions.
Switching to more green sources of energy could increase economic gains by 26 trillion dollars (United Nations, n.d.).
The use of renewable energy escalated by 5% in the 10 year period between 2009 and 2019 and it was 1.7% more than the use of fossil fuels during the same time period (United Nations, n.d.).”
The next portion of the home page contains a few different sections. On the left of the page, visitors to the site are encouraged to “Begin Here.” Considering there are a lot of different elements on the Home page, it is useful to offer this sense of direction to visitors.
The first section on the left is titled “A Note to Readers.”
Underneath this, visitors can find text boxes with links and previews to the other pages and posts on the site.
On the left column of this portion of the Home page, there is a section where visitors can get to know a bit more about Kinjal with a link that leads to a page with more in-depth details. Underneath this are a series of breathtaking photos of nature that Kinjal has taken and shared on her site.
At the very bottom of this page is a rotating gallery that displays a series of graphics and texts.
The second page on the website is the About page.
This page reads:
“I am Kinjal Gupta, a 19-year-old undergraduate student. Global warming was not a big concern for me until recently when I watched some documentary films on climate change. This interest pushed me to investigate how effective these films are in disseminating information on the said issue.
Climate Change documentaries hold a lot of potential. They can be the key to helping the current generation and future generations to act together and protect the planet. Most importantly, they can educate people and create awareness.
Do read the blog to find out more information.”
The next page of the website is where most of the content can be browsed. It is the My Blog page. This page contains links to all the posts that make up the bulk of the website. The first link is called A Note to Readers.
When this link is selected, visitors are brought to a blog post.
It reads:
“A Note to Readers
Burning fossil fuels is not the only reason for global warming; the burning conscience of humankind is responsible as well. It is not unknown that the unprecedented rise in the global temperature is largely a human-induced change. However, despite its serious consequences, the problem has been ignored for several decades now. Recently, people are becoming more vocal in expressing their concern about the said issue through various mediums including climate change documentary films. These films highlight the seriousness of the situation and employ techniques that help to motivate viewers to take action instead of reacting passively. Climate change documentary films use dramatic narratives coupled with evocative imagery to appeal to pathos, educate people about environmental concerns, and urge them to take action.
Global warming is the escalating temperature of Earth caused by the rising emission of greenhouse gases from activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation (United Nations, n.d.). The catastrophic changes such as declining glacier volumes, rising sea levels, and unpredictable weather patterns are among the few consequences that underline that the future humanity is heading towards is not bright at all. Thus, they are in an urgent need to push people to save the planet and reduce the damage that they have done. Climate change documentary films can be very effective in addressing this and spurring action.
The primary audience for this project is university students because they comprise the youth of this world who actively participate in change, take a strong stance on many social issues, and are avid watchers of documentary films. This topic is of direct concern for these students because they can work to ensure a better future for upcoming generations as well as avoid the mistakes of the past generations in handling the response to this problem.
In addition to university students, this project holds importance for every human being because global warming is not a concern for just one section of society. It is a problem that all the people on this planet have contributed to.
Global warming has turned into a comfortable reality today. Looking after the environment occupies a very low position on the list of priorities. It is evident that something has to be done immediately because this problem is becoming worse with every passing moment. In this dark reality, documentaries on climate change can catalyze the response to global warming.
Such films can be used as an important tool to change the way people think about climate change, learn about the consequences of their actions, and realize what needs to be done before it is too late. The use of pathos in these films is very essential in imposing the urgency of the situation. This is an important research topic because it, most definitely, can produce the much-needed change and possibly, control the effects of climate e change.
I have used the facts from the United Nations website to give some background information on global warming such as the temperature of the Earth will reach a high of 4.4° C and its effects include deteriorating marine life and melting ice sheets (United Nations, n.d.). For this section, I chose a picture of burning firewood by Garth (n.d.) because it represents the burning Earth. This picture perfectly paints the picture of the future we are heading towards.
Additionally, I decided to include “How dare you!” !”(United Nations, 2019, 0:28) from the environmental activist, Greta Thunberg’s speech to emphasize the gravity of the problem. This introductory section provides a perfect balance of appeal to logos and pathos which makes it impactful.
Next, I have provided evidence from four studies that support the idea that climate change documentaries produce behavioural changes in the audience. I decided to choose the picture of a camera surrounded by leaves captured by Benites (2021). This image is meant to represent documentaries and nature together. It is connected to the topic which is about climate change documentary films.
The inclusion of Griep & Reiner’s (2016) study, which shows that documentaries can be used to educate viewers about complex scientific phenomena, and Lin’s (2013) experiment, which shows that such films produce a first-person effect, underpins the idea that the said-category of films influence the cognitive component of social behaviour. Similarly, Bondi et al.’s (2021) evidence for increased motivation after viewing these films demonstrates that these changes last for a long time. The last scholarly article I used was a study by Janpol & Dilts (2016) who found that documentaries can influence our decision to donate to charities. All these studies provide strong evidence that watching documentaries not only influence our thoughts but also how we act and what decisions we make.
For the next section, I have provided an in-depth analysis of the use of dramatic narratives and the involvement of the audience in climate change documentaries. The image of opened books captured by Tomasse (2016) was suitable for the topic because of the link between books and storytelling. I wanted to convey the idea that documentary films are like books because they tell stories and are not merely just movies.
Here, my project is informed by the research by Banchero et al. (2020) and Mancus (2014). Banchero et al. (2020) mention a number of techniques including engaging storylines and visual rhetoric that can influence the viewers. This is directly related to the thesis and adds to the quality of the project. Additionally, the holistic analysis of An Inconvenient Truth by Mancus (2015) enhances the quality of the information. This analysis involves several examples from the said film about documentaries that capitalize on the idea of unhappy endings and assigning roles to the audience.
I included this section with the purpose of inspiring the readers to play the role of protagonists in the battle against climate change instead of limiting themselves to the comfort of remaining as side characters.
The next section is all about the use of vivid imagery by climate change documentaries to evoke guilt and fear. I have used the study by Bieniek et al. (2019) because it discusses several reasons for inactivity against climate change. It is crucial research because it supplies evidence that documentary films can be persuasive and can be used to fight this ignorance. The inclusion of the studies by Ahn (2021) and Hammond & Breton (2014), who evaluated how these films create feelings of apprehension about the future and personal loss, contributes to the view that visual rhetoric is important to appeal to pathos.
The image of the smiling balloon lying on the road by Dumlao (2018) is linked to the topic of emotional appeal. There exists a contrast between the happiness symbolized by the smiling balloon and the uneasy feeling created by the black road. This image is symbolic of how climate change documentaries simultaneously present themes of hope and hopelessness. The last section is also based on a similar theme.
In the last section, I discuss what can be learned from these documentaries and what can be done to tackle climate change at the individual and community levels. This discussion is supplemented by a picture depicting a protest against global warming, captured by Spiske (2019). The photograph embodies the theme of hope and tribulation. Not only does it remind humanity of its reckless actions but also uses this reminder to reinforce their fighting spirit. I included this image because I wanted to instil a sense of hope in the readers while reminding them that there is still a long way to go.
Global warming is the damage that cannot be undone and can only be controlled. It is essential to mobilize people to build a better future and spur action. In the age of digital media, climate change documentary films can be relied upon for this purpose. By active involvement of the audience and influencing their ideas about the future, these films emotionally appeal to the viewers and can function as effective means to spread awareness about environmental concerns. They can change the future of this planet and particularly, appeal to the youth of this world to bring change.”
The next post on the blog is entitled Global Warming: Burning the Earth as well as Our Conscience:
At the top of this post is a photograph of bright flames burning. Scrolling down the blog post there are informative sections of text interspersed between bright and compelling graphics.
“Humans do not need a police officer to tell them that global warming is the biggest crime they are guilty of committing. They may complain about bearing the brunt but the truth that it is human-induced remains unchanged. Incessant burning of fossil fuels essentially has contributed to the rising temperature. Additionally, deforestation, harnessing limited resources, burgeoning pollution, and, growing population among others have accelerated this process. The greenhouse gas emissions from these activities warm up the Earth.”
This chunk of text is followed by a graphic that breaks down the sentiment of what the viewer has just read. This makes the main points stand out clearly and reinforces the information for easier absorption.
“The clearing of forested areas has deprived the environment of carbon reservoirs. Moreover, many industries that depend on mining fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum generate large emissions. Consequently, there is excess heat in the atmosphere which is absorbed by oceans, altering the marine ecosystem. In addition to this, snow caps and glaciers are melting. As a result, sea levels are rising and, in the future, will consume many cities. This has exerted insurmountable pressure on the carrying capacity of the engironment.
Thus, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the future is bleak.
What Does the Future Hold for Us?
If the temperature continues to rise at an unprecedented rate, eventually the Earth will be warmer by 4.4°C by the end of the twenty-first century (United Nations, n.d.). More threatening is the fact that the number of climate change skeptics is on the rise. This group is supported by fossil fuel companies that want to advance blatant corporate interests.
Another related issue is that many people believe that global warming is a phenomenon that belongs to the distant future. Opposed to popular belief, it is ongoing and continuous.”
This blog post ends with an informative graphic and a concluding sentiment which reads:
“Nature has once again reminded humankind of the fact that they need to remain within their limits. Their interference with the environment’s natural processes has resulted in damage that cannot be undone. Their recklessness has cost them a beautiful home. It is time for them to take responsibility and change their ways.
Global warming is the biggest crime that humans have committed and they do not have the right to remain silent about it.”
There are several more insightful blogs featured on Kinjal’s website which can be found here: https://kinjalgupta2021.wixsite.com/my-site-1/my-blog
One additional feature that can be found on Kinjal’s blog is a contact form where you can connect with her regarding any questions or comments you may have about this project.
References
Ahn, C. (2021). Genre expectations and viewer reaction to our planet: Are audiences motivated to act more sustainably? Language & Literacy (Kingston, Ont.), 23(1), 64-78. https://doi.org/10.20360/langandlit29519
Banchero, P., Rector, T. A., & VanBallenberghe, J. (2020). Best practices in climate change communication as applied to an informal education documentary about Alaska. Journal of Geoscience Education, 69(2), 138-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/10899995.2020.1768003
Benites, E. (2021). red and black robot on black metal stand surrounded by green leaves during daytime [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/tc2NwftE18Q
Bieniek-Tobasco, A., McCormick, S., Rimal, R. N., Harrington, C. B., Shafer, M., & Shaikh, H. (2019). Communicating climate change through documentary film: Imagery, emotion, and efficacy. Climatic Change, 154(1-2), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02408-7
Bondi, B. A., Monani, S. B., Principato, S., & Barlett, C. (2021). Examining the impact of climate change film as an educational tool. Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 20(3), 221-237. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533015X.2020.1780997
Dumlao, N. (2018). smiling emoji balloon beside a black car during daytime [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/qDbnNDF2jZ4
Garth, S. (n.d.). Firewood [Photograph]. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/9YYD4w
Griep, M. A., & Reimer, K. (2016). An Inconvenient Truth-Is it still effective at familiarizing students with global warming? Journal of Chemical Education, 93(11), 1886-1893. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00321
Hammond, P., & Breton, H. O. (2014). Bridging the political deficit: Loss, morality, and agency in films addressing climate change. Communication, Culture & Critique, 7(3), 303-319. https://doi.org/10.1111/cccr.12052
Janpol, H. L., & Dilts, R. (2016). Does viewing documentary films affect environmental perceptions and behaviors? Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 15(1), 90-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/1533015X.2016.1142197
Lin, S. (2013). Perceived impact of a documentary film: An investigation of the first-person effect and its implications for environmental issues. Science Communication, 35(6), 708-733. https://doi.org/10.1177/1075547013478204
Mancus, S. D. (2015). Mother earth tied to the train tracks: The scriptive implications of melodrama in climate change discourse. Performing Ethos, 5(1), 87-99. https://doi.org/10.1386/peet.5.1-2.87_1
Spiske, M. (2019). man holding No Nature No Future signage [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/iZYJzBWXfYA
Tomasso, P. (2016). Books [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/Oaqk7qqNh_c
United Nations. (2019, September 23). Greta Thunberg (Young Climate Activist) at the Climate Action Summit 2019 – Official Video [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/u9KxE4Kv9A8
United Nations. (n.d.). Climate Action Fast Facts. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/key-findings