Kony 2012 Sociology
How does ‘Kony 2012’ represent the causes and consequences of, and
remedies for, violence?
The Internet video “Kony 2012”, produced by the non-governmental organization “Invisible Children”, portraits the violence in Uganda committed by a rebel leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) named Joseph Kony, especially regarding the capture of children to create an army. Its main aim is to call for the persecution of Kony and, for that, it promotes a campaign to spread his atrocities throughout the world. Despite the fact that it seems to posses a noble goal, the narrative (re)produced by the film portrays a specific and stereotyped idea about the causes and consequences of, and remedies for, violence, reason why it needs to be critically assessed. …show more content…
The LRA leader is portrayed as the true “evil” and the greatest criminal in the world that needs to be stopped. Several images of children with guns and mutilated people were shown meanwhile were narrated the violent acts. Also documents were presented to show that Kony is not fighting to any political cause, but just to remain his power. By doing that, it is clear that the film represents the source of harm in the individual willing of Kony. However, this lead to an oversimplification of the conflict, to the extent that omits various historical, political, social and economic dimensions in which violence …show more content…
This is perhaps the most controversial remedy to violence suggested by “Kony 2012”. A great risk is that this demand propagates the idea that good intentions are, per se, clear and sufficient to justify intervention (De Waal, 2010, p. 311). Therefore, the intervention would have a moral character - and duty - rather than a political one. This is directly confirmed when they said that the US are not in Uganda “for self-defense, but because it was right” (19:45). This discourse is highly dangerous and can hide other objectives that the government may have in sending American troops to African soil. Furthermore, a military action may be not the most adequate one to respond a violent conflict that may have deeper and varied roots for its
The Internet video “Kony 2012”, produced by the non-governmental organization “Invisible Children”, portraits the violence in Uganda committed by a rebel leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) named Joseph Kony, especially regarding the capture of children to create an army. Its main aim is to call for the persecution of Kony and, for that, it promotes a campaign to spread his atrocities throughout the world. Despite the fact that it seems to posses a noble goal, the narrative (re)produced by the film portrays a specific and stereotyped idea about the causes and consequences of, and remedies for, violence, reason why it needs to be critically assessed. …show more content…
The LRA leader is portrayed as the true “evil” and the greatest criminal in the world that needs to be stopped. Several images of children with guns and mutilated people were shown meanwhile were narrated the violent acts. Also documents were presented to show that Kony is not fighting to any political cause, but just to remain his power. By doing that, it is clear that the film represents the source of harm in the individual willing of Kony. However, this lead to an oversimplification of the conflict, to the extent that omits various historical, political, social and economic dimensions in which violence …show more content…
This is perhaps the most controversial remedy to violence suggested by “Kony 2012”. A great risk is that this demand propagates the idea that good intentions are, per se, clear and sufficient to justify intervention (De Waal, 2010, p. 311). Therefore, the intervention would have a moral character - and duty - rather than a political one. This is directly confirmed when they said that the US are not in Uganda “for self-defense, but because it was right” (19:45). This discourse is highly dangerous and can hide other objectives that the government may have in sending American troops to African soil. Furthermore, a military action may be not the most adequate one to respond a violent conflict that may have deeper and varied roots for its