The Tea Party is a movement that has played a key part in the politics of America for many years. Its embodyment of traditional American values plays a vital part in the struture of the party, so I wanted the page I chose to show this. After viewing several Tea Party websites I decided that, for me, http://www.teapartyofamerica.org/ best portrayed the idea of the American Tea Party.
The first thing to strike me about the webpage was its excessive use of images, and the lack of words incorporated. In many circumstances a heavy use of words is important in a Political webpage in order to express the party's policies and beliefs, but by using pictures that we deem typically American such as the bald eagle, the American outline and a mountain range; this site visually illustrates all that it needs to express.
The first thing to strike me about the webpage was its excessive use of images, and the lack of words incorporated. In many circumstances a heavy use of words is important in a Political webpage in order to express the party's policies and beliefs, but by using pictures that we deem typically American such as the bald eagle, the American outline and a mountain range; this site visually illustrates all that it needs to express.
The fact that all of the images are sitting in front of a large Republican flag gives us a look at the bigger picture, exposing the Tea Party as more of a minor group within the Republican Party. It could be suggested that this brings the website's reader back down to earth, showing the limitations of the Tea Party. On the other hand, the fact that the outline of America contains the American flag and the words 'Tea Party of America' inside it, reveals the movement's confidence in their ability to influence the USA and play a major role in its politics.
Another part of the Home Page that caught my attention was the sites tagline, entitled "Restoring America from the Ground Up!" The use of the word "restoring" suggests that the Tea Party have found something wrong with America and are looking to fix it. However, stating that they want to do so from the "Ground Up" is far more optimistic, as it shows how they want to work with America and mould it, as opposed to changing it completely.
As well as the Home Page, the website has several other sections, ranging from 'media' to 'Patriot's Blog'. The traditional, communal nature of the Tea Party is established through links like 'events', 'contact/join us' and the 'blog'. They are designed for members of the movement to feel closer to the people involved at the top of the Tea Party structure, and seem to succeed at this. This is something that sets this webpage apart from many other Tea Party sites, and particularly from exclusively Republican pages. I can imagine the page makes Americans feel wanted and trully part of their nation's political system, and allows them to feel like they know the people directly involved in the party.
It can be suggested that the Tea Party, despite the way it appears through this site, is in fact a very aggressive, manipulative and false movement. The ideas expressed by the party itself such as equality and justice seem to often mysteriously discount several areas of American community. However, it is clear that through this web based example, that the Tea Party, through a strong use of images, limited use of text and a relaxed, non-political approach, are able to make their movement seem very desirable to an American.
Another part of the Home Page that caught my attention was the sites tagline, entitled "Restoring America from the Ground Up!" The use of the word "restoring" suggests that the Tea Party have found something wrong with America and are looking to fix it. However, stating that they want to do so from the "Ground Up" is far more optimistic, as it shows how they want to work with America and mould it, as opposed to changing it completely.
As well as the Home Page, the website has several other sections, ranging from 'media' to 'Patriot's Blog'. The traditional, communal nature of the Tea Party is established through links like 'events', 'contact/join us' and the 'blog'. They are designed for members of the movement to feel closer to the people involved at the top of the Tea Party structure, and seem to succeed at this. This is something that sets this webpage apart from many other Tea Party sites, and particularly from exclusively Republican pages. I can imagine the page makes Americans feel wanted and trully part of their nation's political system, and allows them to feel like they know the people directly involved in the party.
It can be suggested that the Tea Party, despite the way it appears through this site, is in fact a very aggressive, manipulative and false movement. The ideas expressed by the party itself such as equality and justice seem to often mysteriously discount several areas of American community. However, it is clear that through this web based example, that the Tea Party, through a strong use of images, limited use of text and a relaxed, non-political approach, are able to make their movement seem very desirable to an American.
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