PunkTheFunk 124,437 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Ed Sheeran has won huge success this year, but a more dubious honour has just come his way. The UK singer's short film for the British charity Comic Relief has been handed a "Rusty Radiator" award, given to the "most offensive and stereotypical fundraising video of the year" It shows Mr Sheeran travelling to Liberia, and meeting two young boys who are sleeping in a boat on the beach. He is so touched by their plight, he decides to act then and there, offering to put them up in a hotel until a more permanent home can be found. The advert has been viewed more than six million times, and was part of a fundraising effort which eventually raised more than £80m ($109m) for causes around the world, including helping children in Liberia. It touched a nerve, and made people pick up their phones and donate, so what exactly is wrong? "It's not really about what was wrong with the video," Ugandan photographer and Rusty Radiator juror Edward Echwalu told the BBC. "But the general mentality that they have to bring a western celebrity with them. "They have no idea about what's on the continent. Look at him: he got emotionally attached to the situation, it tells me that he had no idea and he was not ready to be confronted with the kind of hardship people in some African cities contend with." Mr Sheeran has also been accused of playing the "white saviour" - swooping into people's lives and making grand gestures, but, some think, making it all about themselves, with little understanding of the wider situation. Too much of this particular video was focused on Mr Sheeran's experience, Mr Echwalu said - much like the people who go to volunteer in countries around the world, and spend their time uploading selfies to social media. For Mr Echwalu, it detracts from what should be the focus - the experience of the person who they are meant to be helping. What's more, those who oppose videos like this one complain, they lack context to ensure people understand what is going on and, Mr Echwalu argues, play into a wider narrative - one which fails to reflect the diverse continent he knows. So how do exactly do you create a video which both respects the subject, and gets the message across? For Mr Echwalu, who has spent a lot of time with the refugees seeking shelter in Uganda, the answer is simple - humanising people. "Use the voice of the people. Not any child who cannot even state their name," he says. "An ideal way is to tell stories - positive stories about ambitions: we are here, we are starting a new life, where do you see yourself - that should be the approach. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42268637 Get that acclaim King Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanripley 86,575 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 talent wins! https://goo.gl/xMgMvJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crisTEAne 21,059 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 okja > ed if you hurt taylor swift, i'll hurt you back Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvnrp 48,353 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 I hope Ed's ARTPOP era starts like tommorow so we never have to see him again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runway 27,876 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Impact Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausofbrice 2,867 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 its what she deserves xoxo, brice ♡ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlopSlurper 34,336 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 I love JWT poster Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed 7,716 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 lets be honest, if people critricized Gaga for this you guys would **** on social justice. good things its someone you guys dont like though isn't ot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed 7,716 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 1 minute ago, FlopSlurper said: I love JWT poster please tell me you've seen almost famous Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANVEEROY 61,217 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 Wait what? Stream Kylie-Janet Discographies! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloody g 31,746 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 what matters is that they get the help they need. This award is TRASH. Any visibility is good, doesn't matter how cliche it gets 『𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝』 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sipthistea 21,099 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 OMG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunkTheFunk 124,437 Posted December 8, 2017 Author Share Posted December 8, 2017 3 minutes ago, Bloody Grammys said: what matters is that they get the help they need. This award is TRASH. Any visibility is good, doesn't matter how cliche it gets Yeah! So what if that visibility constantly reinforces the narrative that Africa is just one giant slum that can't function without the help of Westerners? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloody g 31,746 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 2 minutes ago, PunkTheFunk said: Yeah! So what if that visibility constantly reinforces the narrative that Africa is just one giant slum that can't function without the help of Westerners? ok you got me 『𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝』 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanripley 86,575 Posted December 8, 2017 Share Posted December 8, 2017 9 minutes ago, Bloody Grammys said: what matters is that they get the help they need. This award is TRASH. Any visibility is good, doesn't matter how cliche it gets it makes sense when you look up on it, people who actually work in these organisations have said a good majority of "volunteers" are literally there for the instagram pictures https://goo.gl/xMgMvJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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