Blackfish Documentary Techniques

In terms of pathos, Blackfish is also strong in delivering an argument appeal to emotion. These SeaWorld trainers gave their personal stories in the documentary, all sharing how they were so excited to work with the animals when first applying and getting the job. They all explained how they truly were able to develop relationships with Tilikum and the other orcas during their time at SeaWorld. When talking about the incidents between Tilikum and trainer Dawn Brancheau, the trainers’ emotion is shown when they stutter in their words, cry, and give their deepest regrets

Cowperthwaite used Pathos to get the audience emotionally connected into the film. She used an emotional appeal to help the audience stay invested throughout the film. She started the documentary by showing all the tricks that the Orca Whales can perform, to get the audience intrigued by what they are capable of in the SeaWorld business. Cowperthwaite then goes onto show how the Orca whales were trained to do the tricks. This is when the mood of the film changes from the whales putting on amazing shows to the devastating reality behind how they are trained to do them. She showed live footage of the whales be starved and forced to do the tricks over and over again. The whales were finally fed after the trainer was satisfied by their performance. She used pathos by showing live footage of how the whales were

When describing working with killer whales, one of the former SeaWorld trainers uses personification to illustrate the bond human and whale shared and how it started to seem as if the whale had become like one of his children. By giving the animal the likeness of a human, the trainer was hoping that the viewer could relate the bond he shared with his animal to the bond a viewer might have between a parent and their child. The former SeaWorld trainer also successfully uses pathos in this scene. He appeals to the viewers emotions, especially to parents, by bringing in the special bond of a parent and child. The bond between a parent and their child is one of the strongest bonds one will experience in a lifetime and it is also one of the bonds that we have all experienced. Not everyone may have felt the bonds of friendship and love, but everyone is either a parent or a child. As a result, the viewer is able understand the feeling of the trainers, who have been around and worked with the killer whales for so long, that if feels as if the whales have become their children.

A documentary is an expository text that informs its audience about an issue person or event using visual and auditory conventions to convey a message. Documentaries are often used to reveal an unusual, interesting or unknown angle. Topics are limited only by one's imagination. The documentary Blackfish is the story of Tilikum, a captive killer whale that has taken the lives of several people, it underscores problems within the sea-park industry, man's relationship to nature, and how little has been learned about these highly intelligent mammals. This documentary was directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. The ideas that orcas are wild and unpredictable, Seaworld’s treatment of orcas are inhumane and Seaworld’s was negligent in their training of their trainers. These ideas are shown throughout the documentary as visual techniques of Celebrity figure, expert opinion, audio codes, the documentary technique of interviews, archival footage and written codes. I think these ideas in the documentary are quite true and are well proven throughout the documentary.

One of the most effective strategies that the director amplifies in the film is pathos. Pathos is shown by phone calls that have been made to dispatch when attacks occurred, actual footage from attacks and baby orcas crying when they were separated from their mothers. This allows the audience to see and hear all of the incidents regarding the killer whales and be able to feel more connected. When the director uses pathos the appeal is to have the sympathy directed for the killer whales. A claim that ties in with all of this is in the documentary when they are saying killer whales are normally peaceful in the wild, and they only attack while in captivity. Detailed facts about how the whales are to an extent, tortured and become agitated with no outlet support this reasoning, since there are documented reports and footage of this as well.

Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s activist documentary, Blackfish, spurred a significant public dialogue following its 2013 premier. The film centers on the role of Tilikum, an orca whale at SeaWorld, in the deaths of three SeaWorld trainers, including, most recently, Dawn Brancheau. Cowperthwaite follows a suit brought against Sea World by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), weaving together testimony of scientists, former trainers, and family members of the deceased, among others, to make a compelling case against SeaWorld’s practice of holding and performing alongside orcas. Nevertheless, after its release, the film drew criticism from some of its participants as well as Sea World itself. Cowperthwaite claims not to have tried to vilify SeaWorld. However, this claim seems dubious given the film’s fairly evident anti-SeaWorld bias.

In beginning of the film, the appeal to pathos affects the audience as we listen to what these former trainers have to say about how they became interested in the job and what made them realize that a trainer was what they wanted to be. As a little kid each of these trainers were inspired by commercials, TV channels, and visiting SeaWorld for the first time. It seems that this job is perfect for them until they realize that they do not know where and how these killer whales were captured. According to the SeaWorld of Hurt website, “Dr. Newby tells the story of the horrific captures

Finally, I will give reason to why people need to realize the damage SeaWorld is doing to the

With all of the incidents and interviews provided in the film, my interpretation of what the Filmmakers purpose was to provide evidence and information explaining why there are so many deadly killer whale accidents. Viewers can take away enough information from this film to make their own opinion on Sea Worlds captivity of killer whales. The filmmakers of blackfish pieced together Tilikums story with different film footage, interviews with trainers who know Tilikum the most, and expert testimonies. It creates a great set up for their claim about captivated killer whales used for entertainment.

The claim further argues that said stress can be directly blamed for the violent outbursts of the orcas against the training staff. When whales are taken away from their families in the wild waters, they grieve the pain and suffering that is associated with that parting, thus making the whales an emotional time bomb. The documentary provides grounds to argue that orcas suffer the emotional repercussions of separation, much like humans do by with the fact that scientists have proven them to be conscious of human-like relationships and feelings via MRI’s. Moreover, included in this documentary was a commercial of a killer whale giving birth to baby Kalina. Much like our society, killer whales value their relationships with their offspring. Once Kalina was taken from her mother, Katina, is shown being immobile in the corner of the tank, audibly screeching and crying. Being able to see and hear the tragic response of the mother makes the audience empathize with the orca and want to cry for her. Incorporating this event shows how holding orcas in captivity can negatively affect them psychologically. This vivid scene gives the audience the ability to sympathize on a personal level with a mammal other than

David Kirby’s book describes the complex issues of whales in captivity. The death of a SeaWorld trainer brought up many objective reasons of the training practices of this business were not effective at keeping trainers safe in the water. Currently this debate is still being tested in a court of law. OSHA claims that even with the precautions that SeaWorld tries to use, it still cannot guarantee the safety of trainers in the water. This cultural topic has been gaining ground, and recently prompted a movie based off this book titled, Blackfish. The audience of this book includes animal activists, followers of David Kirby, and people that are interested in the topic of killer whales in captivity. Rob Grom was contracted to create a book

Cowperthwaite wastes no time in establishing an emotional connection between viewers and the subject matter. Cowperthwaite uses pathos in the form of an actual 911 emergency phone call related to SeaWorld incidents, interviews given by former SeaWorld trainers, and video clips of killer whales behaving in nature and in captivity. Within the first few seconds of the documentary, viewers are exposed to not one but two horrifying 911 emergency phone calls. In one of these phone calls, a man calls and communicates to the

The film is directly targeted at the general population, with the intent to notify the public about the cruel management and the inhumane practices of SeaWorld. They use Logos to assure that Orca whales are more than a simple creature. They inform the audience that Orcas are intellectual, and are capable of understanding emotion. The film supports this claim by further saying that orcas have a limbic system that is more complex than that of humans. Additionally, Blackfish supports its argument by claiming that scientists have used MRI's on the whales, proving them to be conscious of human-like relationships and feelings. This source of Logos becomes very apparent when the film shows the Orca whales being taken from their ocean environment. They become lethargic and show signs of depression while captive in their tanks. Another sign of the whales having the capacity to understand emotion and human-like relationships is when one of the mother Orcas gives birth. Form research, it is found

Sea World rebuttal was not considered in the documentary of “Blackfish” which clearly defines the bias views of the creator. So without choice, viewers are marked to take the side of the creator or leave the documentary feeling like a kid in a fine china shop, unable to touch or lose your balance for fear of shattering the look of the shop. Unfortunately, the problem with animal activist groups is that they force their religious views of animals on others with no other biases to consider. Hence, their real arguments are skewed and we are unable to clearly see the real poignant side without the opinions.

The death of Dawn Brancheau made national news back in 2010. Dawn was working as an orca trainer at the SeaWorld of Orlando when the tragic accident occurred. While doing a relationship session with Tilikum, the largest orca in captivity, Dawn was pulled into the water and drowned. It was a story that not only shocked the nation but left people wondering how something so horrible could happen. Gabriela Cowperthwaite‘s use of the accounts of retired SeaWorld trainers exposed the harsh reality of captured animals in her documentary Blackfish. In creating a piece focused on the life of one orca, Cowperthwaite has allowed viewers to look into the lives of captured animals and has shown the greater social issue of animal rights, the treatment