The Hapathetic Generation is a visual communication campaign specifically targeted at individuals born between 1982 and 2000. Research indicates that these individuals, known as the Millennials, are the most socially concerned demographic to date; yet they are also the least likely to involve themselves in solutions that address their concerns. One cannot help but wonder how a generation whose social concern is so well documented is also incredibly inactive in their efforts to affect change. Has this group become apathetic without realizing it?
If so, how can visual communicators expect to effectively encourage active participation in social issues if the demographic target is indifferent? The Hapathetic Generation investigates how visual communication can provide self-awareness among Millennials as it relates to the ability to recognize their apathetic action regarding social issues. The combination of satirical positioning, motion, branding, and online interaction provides Millennials the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of self, enabling Graphic Designers to communicate more effectively with this target and, over time, encouraging stronger efforts to impact positive social change.
","abstract_html":"<p>The Hapathetic Generation is a visual communication campaign specifically targeted at individuals born between 1982 and 2000. Research indicates that these individuals, known as the Millennials, are the most socially concerned demographic to date; yet they are also the least likely to involve themselves in solutions that address their concerns. One cannot help but wonder how a generation whose social concern is so well documented is also incredibly inactive in their efforts to affect change. Has this group become apathetic without realizing it?</p> <p>If so, how can visual communicators expect to effectively encourage active participation in social issues if the demographic target is indifferent? The Hapathetic Generation investigates how visual communication can provide self-awareness among Millennials as it relates to the ability to recognize their apathetic action regarding social issues. The combination of satirical positioning, motion, branding, and online interaction provides Millennials the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of self, enabling Graphic Designers to communicate more effectively with this target and, over time, encouraging stronger efforts to impact positive social change.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["McLaughlin, Jennifer"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)","degree_level":"Thesis (open access)","degree_discipline":"Department of Art","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Edward Rushton","Tiffanie Townsend","Marc Moulton"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:27:26Z","subjects":["ETD","Millennial Generation","Apathy","Hapathy","Campaign","Social Media","Social Issues","Graphic Design","Politics and Social Change","Visual Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/793","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Edward Rushton","Tiffanie Townsend","Marc Moulton"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["McLaughlin, Jennifer"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-09-12T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Department of Art"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis (open access)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["ETD","Millennial Generation","Apathy","Hapathy","Campaign","Social Media","Social Issues","Graphic Design","Politics and Social Change","Visual Studies"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/793"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The Hapathetic Generation is a visual communication campaign specifically targeted at individuals born between 1982 and 2000. Research indicates that these individuals, known as the Millennials, are the most socially concerned demographic to date; yet they are also the least likely to involve themselves in solutions that address their concerns. One cannot help but wonder how a generation whose social concern is so well documented is also incredibly inactive in their efforts to affect change. Has this group become apathetic without realizing it?
If so, how can visual communicators expect to effectively encourage active participation in social issues if the demographic target is indifferent? The Hapathetic Generation investigates how visual communication can provide self-awareness among Millennials as it relates to the ability to recognize their apathetic action regarding social issues. The combination of satirical positioning, motion, branding, and online interaction provides Millennials the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of self, enabling Graphic Designers to communicate more effectively with this target and, over time, encouraging stronger efforts to impact positive social change.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Hapathetic Generation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Edward Rushton","Tiffanie Townsend","Marc Moulton"],"dc:creator":["McLaughlin, Jennifer"],"dc:date.available":["2013-09-12T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The Hapathetic Generation is a visual communication campaign specifically targeted at individuals born between 1982 and 2000. Research indicates that these individuals, known as the Millennials, are the most socially concerned demographic to date; yet they are also the least likely to involve themselves in solutions that address their concerns. One cannot help but wonder how a generation whose social concern is so well documented is also incredibly inactive in their efforts to affect change. Has this group become apathetic without realizing it?
If so, how can visual communicators expect to effectively encourage active participation in social issues if the demographic target is indifferent? The Hapathetic Generation investigates how visual communication can provide self-awareness among Millennials as it relates to the ability to recognize their apathetic action regarding social issues. The combination of satirical positioning, motion, branding, and online interaction provides Millennials the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of self, enabling Graphic Designers to communicate more effectively with this target and, over time, encouraging stronger efforts to impact positive social change.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/793"],"dc:subject":["ETD","Millennial Generation","Apathy","Hapathy","Campaign","Social Media","Social Issues","Graphic Design","Politics and Social Change","Visual Studies"],"dc:title":["The Hapathetic Generation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Department of Art"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis (open access)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:27:26Z"}