When searching Zendaya on the Internet the web describes her as “an American actress and singer who began her career appearing as a child model and backup dancer.” However, her Instagram depicts her as so much more. Zendaya primarily uses her instagram to share her own personal story through her images and captions. Her instagram appeals to a diverse audience. Many people would assume that she would only connect with younger generations because she has played many roles on Disney Channel however, I believe it can draw in anyone who is interested in her life. With her new movie out, The Greatest Showman, she will be drawing in a variety of generations due to the fact that it is a family friendly movie. In addition, I believe that because of her posts voicing her opinion on a wide range of topics she can connect to anyone. Zendaya's purpose is to express herself through her clothes, makeup, and values. She includes many images on her instagram to promote her films and roles in TV shows. However, I believe her main focus is to show that age doesn't matter when you are trying to make a difference in the world. She wants to connect with the world to get across messages that are important.
One of Zendaya’s most recent posts is a photograph of her in-front of the Disney Channel logo. Having a past on Disney could make it difficult for people to take her beliefs and opinions seriously which is exactly the opposite of what she wants. Logos is a rhetorical appeal most often used through out her Instagram page. She demonstrates logical appeal by persuading her audience to interpret her posts in a serious manner. It states “the end of an era. On to the next. Thank you for continuing to grow with me.” This image is significant because she acknowledges that at one point in time she was only seen as Rocky from Shake it Up but that she now wants to show she has grown into so much more. The rest of the images on her Instagram help reemphasize that she should not only be looked at as an actress but rather an activist who wants the change the world even just a little bit. One of the highlights on Zendaya’s instagram is her cover photo on Glamour Magazine. This picture clearly depicts her view on women’s power. She says “if people know your name, they should know it for a reason.” At first when you look at this picture you only see Zendaya promoting the magazine Glamour but it is so much more than that. She shares her opinion that no matter your size you should be able to shop in the same section that a man or women smaller or larger than you does. Zendaya appeals to ethos through her own personal experiences growing up. The way Zendaya sets up her trust is by explaining that she “was lucky enough to grow up in a family that let her wear what she wanted to and show where she wanted to shop. Nine times out of ten she was shopping in the boys’ section” (https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ13V4IBI5R/?taken-by=zendaya) and she wants every individual to have the same right to do so without being shamed for it. Credibility of this image is also established because she posts the cover of the magazine of a reliable company that supports her opinions. Emotion plays into Zendaya’s instagram page in various parts to satisfy the rhetorical appeal of pathos. One of the main posts that elicits emotion is a video of a list of the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history. The caption Zendaya includes with the video states, “there is no post I can make that will heal the pain and heartache that is being felt in Las Vegas today, but we NEED change… How are we going to end gun violence.” Zendaya’s audience automatically feels emotions of sadness, ignorance, and the desire to make a difference in our world. This post also appeals to emotion because many of her followers could have had personal connections to at least one of the mass shootings on the list. Zendaya includes her emotions to connect with her audience that we can not grow accustom to waking up to this kind of terrorism in our country. She wants to make her audience aware of the changes society has to make.
2 Comments
Molly Morey
2/7/2018 05:21:19 pm
I enjoyed your analysis of Zendaya's page and found it to be very complete and thoughtful. I like how you discussed her growing career, as she recently ended her time on Disney Channel, and how that connects to her social media and who she is online and in the real world. I really enjoyed the section where you discussed the picture from Glamour magazine and how you found her purpose to be sharing her own opinion and using her Instagram page as a platform. You described that section as having the appeal of ethos but I would also discuss the use of pathos, and how using her voice in her posts allows her to create a connection with more of her followers and/or friends. Overall, I liked how in the analysis you discussed how Zendaya posted saying goodbye to Disney and how she uses her platform on a serious note even though until recently she was primarily in TV shows for younger children.
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Kayla Trascher
2/7/2018 07:08:05 pm
Hey Amanda! Your RAB was really interesting to read! Zendaya is wise beyond her years and you did a great job capturing that with your analysis. She has been in the spotlight for a while now, so it is neat to see her transformation through her Instagram. Disney Channel stars often have a hard time transitioning into mature roles, but Zendaya did it with grace. I liked how you used logos to analyze this.
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