The Salvation Army Research Paper

Most everyone has heard of the ongoing debate of whether “the dress” is white and gold or blue and black; however, not everyone may be aware of the ongoing issue surrounding domestic abuse. On March 6, 2015, the South African branch of the Salvation Army decided to use the ongoing debate to bring light to the real “black and blue” people should worry about. They posted on Twitter a beaten model wearing the gold and white dress with a caption of “Why is it so hard to see black and blue” (Salvation Army). The Salvation Army, known for their work with aiding those in need, believes that gaining awareness for domestic abuse and human trafficking is key to stopping these problems. Through their insightful use of a popular culture hot topic, the

The author, the Salvation Army, made it seem that it is so simple to understand that we, as a society and culture, should focus on is the crimes of abuse. The author includes a phone number for people who need help, or can help, can call. The Salvation Army follows their creed of “heart to God, hand to man” (Salvation Army) by being a resource for those in need. The role that the Salvation Army plays in their work, according to the article “South African Salvation Army Advertising Campaign Becomes Worldwide Phenomenon”, is to provide programs that “help [the victims] to recover from their abusers and leave as independent, confident women” (Salvation Army). There is no other opinion on this ad, since that would be counterintuitive to the support of abused women. The logic they present is sound because no one would outright praise someone for abusing

The model of this ad is wearing the disputed white and gold (or black and blue) dress and has bruises on her face, wrist, and legs. The dress itself is a way for the audience to connect an image to a larger meaning. The author responds to the fact that people are obsessing of the color of the dress, when there are more relevant topics the media should be concerned with, such as domestic abuse. Furthermore, surrounded by a grey background, the model and her injuries are front and center, much like how the idea of helping the abused should be. With the background being nondescript, the large, white text is also pronounced, making it easier to understand what the image is supposed to be