Issues Essay Australian Flag

The recent discussion about redesigning the Australian Flag has brought on debate about Australian icons and their representation in society. Targeting the Australian population, the ‘Sunday Morning Herald” on the 28th of January selected a range of speakers and images to create the clip “Aussie Symbols”. The tone and continually development and varied tones prove to be persuasive device. Exploiting Australians immense pride in their country by appealing to National pride is used to position the audience to agree that the Australian icons should represent proud and inclusion rather than be violated when involved in divisive acts. The speakers deliver their message in a simplistic and informal way to appeal to the target audience and images are selected and edited to represent what the speakers are saying. The clip is an interesting way to grab the attention of the Australian public and alert them to the dangers of misrepresenting our national icons.

Due to the range of speakers in the clip, the tone continually shifts and varies to appeal to the broad target audience. There are three main tones of the piece, the three tones are alternated and sequenced so they are evenly distributed throughout the clip. The effect of a patriotic tone is engaging the attention of proud Australians; this is a powerful tool because stereotypically Australians are strongly connected to pride in their country. Tone is the first sound heard and is an inflexion in the speakers voice as well as using words such as, in this case, ‘proud’ and ‘Australian’ enticing patriotic Australians to listen. An honest yet contradictory tone is second, for those who feel estranged or discriminated against as the clip suggests, is powerful in proving to the broad audience that the argument is well reasoned as both side of the argument have been examined and explored. By questioning Australia’s values and actions the tone works to move the audience to grasp the sympathetic perspective and encourages them...