The Girl Effect

You know those pesky little advertisements that pop-up on the side of your web page? Well, sometimes I click on them depending on what it is (shoes on sale is a definite must!) I’d like to share with all of you one of the more serious ads I clicked on. Simple white words on a black background that read, “The Girl Effect.” intrigued me.  After watching this video a few years ago, I became passionate about this issue. This video expresses the effect one girl can have on a world issue; poverty.  

While I watched this video, I quickly became concerned for the safety and well-being of the little cartoon girl, who represents over 600 million girls in poverty in the world right now. This means this video achieved its goal of getting me to feel personally invested in 600 million people, in only 3 minutes.  

Because there is no narration, the music plays a key role in the audience’s feelings. The music has a sense of urgency to it. You can hear the clock running out of time within the beat. There are also two different moods; daunting and optimistic.  While our little heroine struggles to avoid all the obstacles that life has thrown her way, the music matches with a serious, almost haunting tune. Then once she receives the help she needs, the music changes. The same song is being played but in a different mood. Now the little girl has hope, reflected in the change of music. There is also a brief pause where the audience is asked, “Not the life you imagined for a 12 year old right?” This break, that only lasts a second, offers a moment to reflect on the horrors this girl has just gone through. After having a moment to let us digest, the video goes right on with the solution.

In this video, the importance in the selection of music is evident.  Although our project has to have narration, I will be keeping in mind the importance of the music that accompanies.

Interested in The Girl Effect? Check it out.