'Save The Children'

"Three ads for the Save The Children foundation were named winners at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for their powerful illustrations showcasing the statistic that "70 percent of abused children turn into abusive adults." These three ads show children who cycle through physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse. All abuse causes extreme emotional distraught regardless of how simple it maybe and statistics show that abused children typically grow to be abusive adults or they strive to make sure their children, or the children around them, do not get abused as they have. Now I will go through each of these photos with my interpretation of the meanings and display of the cycle of abuse.

 First we will start with the above photo.This is typically what people first think of when they think of a child that has been abused. Here you see the the youngest of the boys has spilled milk and his father is about to hit him. The boy cringes away and guards his face with his hands in a clearly, defensive manner. Through the cycle you can see that as he moves around the table the boy grows older. If you start at the youngest boy and work your way clockwise around the table you can slowly see him growing into an older and more angry man. You can see that he grows angrier and more aggressive through how the models have been posed.

Second we have another form of abuse that is a little harder to prove. This one is typically all psychological, mental and emotional. The only bruises from this one are emotional or the redness under eyes after a tearful night. This time instead of a boy it is a girl. The young girl seems to have cut the hair off of her doll and her mother didn't take it too well. Once again, starting with the little girl and going clockwise as she grows up, you can see her slowly grow into an angrier woman who later would scream at her own child.

The last photo at first maybe a little harder to read. Some may see it right away while others maybe slightly confused. As I understand this photo is about being sexually abused. You see the fear in the little boys eyes as he hides under the covers from an older man. You can see that the emotions that are shown as this boy grows isn't him becoming more of one thing but you see him looking scared. Then he looks upset or possibly in denial. The third boy looks withdrawn or sad, he is possibly questioning his life and what his going through his mind. Fourth you can see his looking very interested at his younger self. And lastly you see him as an adult looking as if he is about to reach for his younger self.

These ads get the point across and show, in a very dramatic way, the cycle of abuse. Comment with your ideas and comments.