Fotonovela Research Paper

A fotonovela is an intervention model, popular in Latino cultures, that discusses important health and social topics through the use of comic book style visuals. This type of model of communication is useful because it uses pictures and drawings to deliver important health and social messages that would otherwise not be as effective in simple text form, such as pamphlets. As stated in the textbook, Multicultural Health, this form of communication is particularly popular in Chicano/Latino communities because it provides a unique idiom through which the community addresses social concerns using a highly innovative visual language. (Hoffman & Ritter, 2010) Over the years this has also become a useful way for healthcare providers to communicate with Latino groups who are not fluent in the English language. Still there are several different multicultural groups that would benefit from the use of visual models, such as fotonovelas, that would provide an effective way of communicating important health issues. Fotonovelas are effective because they are relatable, they provide visual imagery, and they cater to individuals with low literacy capacities.

A fotonovela is an effective form

With all of the different language barriers in the world sometimes the best way to communicate with a group of individuals is through the use of pictures. Pictures of individuals in a particular situation who look similar to a certain cultural group is a more persuasive way of getting important messages across. “The visual aspects of the novella are enticing and the style allows the reader to explore the health topics, increase self-identification and risk, and strengthen cultural identity.” (Hoffman & Ritter, 2010) Pictures are an important part of fotonovelas, specifically because they cater to an audience with a low-literacy