Ashley Marie Lapadula/Staff Writer
Who knew a 30-minute film could capture the attention of so many? If you have not heard of “Kony 2012” by now, there is a chance you have not been near the Internet in about a month. However, whether the impact of the video still remains among students is now in question.
The short film created by California-based advocacy group Invisible Children, which was released March 5, went viral a few days after and currently has over 89 million views on YouTube.
The film’s sole purpose was, and continues to be, promoting a movement that plans to make Joseph Kony, a Ugandan war criminal, famous, making it possible to find him and arrest him.
The video has not only reached Congress and the African Union, but it has also appealed to a wider international audience.
“‘Kony 2012’ has really changed my views on the situation in Uganda. It’s sad to see the circumstances there, and it is truly heartbreaking. Although the video has blown over in recent weeks, I think it is important that we continue to follow up on this movement,” said Krystal Lopez, an international politics major.
Near the end it states that April 20 will be the time for viewers to take action at an event called “Cover the Night.” The organization encouraged everyone to go out and fill the streets with Kony-related content to fully raise awareness.
The participation of students is key, but students share speculation about the actual movement after the creator and founder, Jason Russel, was detained due to a meltdown less than two weeks after the video was released, affecting their willingness to become further involved with “Kony 2012.”
Samantha Garcia, a business major, said, “The video received so much commentary for not including more than a single Ugandan voice, and the fact that the founder Jason Russell suffered a public meltdown has really put into question for me the authenticity of the video.”
Similarly, Kim Armstrong, a senior majoring in psychology and criminal justice, expressed her frustration with the whole campaign.
“When it first came out, it went viral and it was huge, but then when I looked more into it, it was iffy. It was one of those things that people were jumping the gun on it before reading more into it,” she said.
Armstrong went on to say that she did not plan to participate in the “Cover the Night” event.
Like Armstrong, many people have lost interest in the movement over time. The intentions were admirable, and it is certain that social networking can help spread an idea, enhancing the possibility of real change. Yet, the impression “Kony 2012” left on University students and others that it meant to can be up for interpretation.
“People shouldn’t form their opinions on just that one documentary. I don’t think that people will stop taking [the movement] seriously. It’s good that it’s out there now, but people will have to look more into it,” said Claudia Vega, a sophomore majoring in sociology and psychology.
Additional reporting by Vanessa Paredes.
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