Documentary Analysis: Why We Fight

Hungry for Change is a thought provoking documentary produced by James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch that delves into the implications of eating a modern diet. Using pathos, facts and figures, and association, Hungry for Change delivers a meritorious performance that engages viewers and leaves them questioning their own diet and lifestyle choices. The film’s use of rhetorical and advertising strategies and its ability to captivate viewers make this an effective, life changing documentary.

After watching 13th it didn't make me upset at all, it made me very sorrowful, to see some of the things that African Americans had to go through. I wonder how it would feel to be kidnapped and brought to another country, to be enslaved and then freed to only be, enslaved in a different way. Know that I have watched this documentary it oped my eyes on why things are how they are know. Everything that they said in the documentary was linked together one way or another, it’s like putting together a puzzle with a lot of pieces. One thing that really stuck with me from the documentary was when they were saying that, a lot of the african american leaders around the 1960 were either killed, imprisoned or fled the country and that's why there is not a lot of African American civil right leaders, because maybe people seen what happened to the civil right activist and didn't want the same thing to happen to them. After all I don’t blame them I would want to play it safe to. On the other hand I don’t feel

The documentary “13th” is very telling about the problems with the prison system and society's view of African-Americans. After the end of slavery, the economy too a hit because of the lack of labor needed for the industries. To solve this problem, people turned to prison workers, because it was cheap labor that weren’t protected under the 13th Amendment. This amendment abolished slavery and indentured servitude, but left the clause of criminal punishment. Because of this loophole, and because whites were very much still in control of society soon after the 13th Amendment was passed, police forces began going after African-Americans in order to fill prisons and satisfy work forces.

Jarhead follows the journey of Anthony Swofford during his service in Middle East. Throughout his journey, Swofford presents a unique perspective on a variety of issues that indirectly affect American life and the “war” on terrorism. Some of the issues touched on include the mental stability and mentality of American soldiers, the influence of politics in the presentation of war, and the construction of a marine. Through these themes, along with the unique perspectives offered by the characters in the film, the audience is able to gain insight into the corruption and lies that are “war”. This insight ultimately helps the audience analyze the text deeper and enables them to draw the similarities in current events and dissect what they

Stephanie Soechtig, is an award-winning film-maker, and director and producer of the nonfiction documentary Fed Up. She began producing documentaries for network news programs such as Primetime Live and 20/20, while also working for Good Morning America during the 2000 presidential elections and the O’Reilly Factor. In 2008, Soechtig partnered with Michael and Michelle Walrath to start Atlas Films, which provided inspiration and education to consumers on the most controversial topics. So far, Soechtig has been awarded the “Best Documentary Feature” for Tapped (2009), “People’s Choice Award” for Under the Gun (2016), and Fortune Magazine named Soechtig as being one of the “Most Innovative Women in Food and Drink” (Biography). In 2014, Soechtig’s “Grand Jury Prize” nominated film Fed Up (2014), narrated by TV Journalist Katie Couric, was created in hopes of unveiling the hidden secrets of the food industry by using statistical analysis and research expert’s testimonies to inform viewers of the direct impact that the food industry has on the health of our nation’s most vulnerable population—children. Soechtig and Couric present the argument that the roles of our government along with the interests and processing methods of food industries are ultimately responsible for the increasing rates of childhood obesity in the United States.

After viewing the first part of Legacies of Social Change: 100 Years of Professional Social Work in the United States, it seems evident that history continues to be presented from the view of those with power and does not acknowledge the downfalls of these movements. History, especially in the United States, is centered toward European and Western civilization and whatever benefits these groups. This film perpetuates this one-sided account of the history social work that worked to only help white people, while diminishing the challenges and progress people of color faced during this period. While one can argue that this film is dated, this is still occurring all throughout our history and has repercussions today. This can be seen with any

Obesity, heart disease and diabetes are all serious conditions that are caused by an increased intake of sugar. In the documentary Sugar Coated, it mentions Japan and how over there, they are taking drastic measures to ensure that their nation does not have to be burdened by the diseases sugar can lead to. Before Japan was introduced to a high sugar diet, they were much healthier than Americans. Now, Japan has to combat many years of high sugar diets that is newly occurring and could potentially ruin their economy due to sugar intake. Although one may think they have a well balanced diet, there are many ways that sugar can be disguised by wording through seemingly healthy food items, such as granola bars, fruit juices and yogurts. Another problem

Throughout the film Do the Right Thing, we continuously observe racial conflict that builds up to such an extreme point that it leads to a fight for power. This movie portrays the struggles and realities of a neighborhood with white and black African American people. This can be seen in many instances for example when Buggin ' Out, Radio Raheem, and Smiley march into Sal 's and demand that Sal change the Wall of Fame. Another vital instance shows the height of power struggle. It is when the huge fight starts in the street and results in Raheem being killed by a white police officer.

The Creek Runs Red is a documentary about Pitcher, Oklahoma. Pitcher used to be the heart of a large zinc and lead mining site. The mining in this town used to bring prosperity to Pitcher, but now it contaminates the town with lead and acid. Pitcher was official declared a Superfund site in 1981 in an attempt to clean the 25,000 acres of mining debris. The chaos in this town brings three important sociological themes to light: environmental justice, risk perception, and social mobility.

Documentaries are produced in such a way that positions the audience to accept a version of reality. As Tim Hetherington, a British photojournalist once said, “You can construct whatever story you want to. Documentaries are constructions, as is all journalism.” In Fahrenheit 9/11 specifically, viewers are presented with a critical analysis of the political agenda surrounding America’s decision to wage war on Iraq. Directed by American political commentator and filmmaker Michael Moore and released in mid-2004, the documentary’s central premise is that US President George Bush is, and has been from the start of his term, unfit for office and does not act in interests of the American public. Moore presents the idea that President Bush, as a result

The preference for “clarity over nuance” which means American people prefer simplicity over complexity when American people access significant declarations and military activities. American people vote their presidents so that American people like politicians announce the statement with the easily accessible idea, even though politicians lie to them, or the statement is wrong. Politicians deceive American people with the easily accessible idea that “...American people in their pursuit of happiness...” (38) according to Andrew J Bacevich’s “The Real World War IV”. Politicians simply state its purpose that the elimination of terror instead of the founding purpose that grab the accessible oil in the Middle East because American people prefer to hear the statement of simply understanding from their politicians who they vote. Also, American people prefer to see a simplicity in the military school in order to pursue their happiness. However, in “The Naked Citadel”, Susan Faludi exposed that there was no admission for women, sex-discrimination, and violence, and etc. many bad news in the military school. But the ugly and relentlessly truth deeply hurt American people’s feeling. Even if the reality is around American people, and we are familiar with it, the reality is too horrible to accept it. Same as soldiers, Tim O’Brien attempts to emphasize the war story is all about human’s love and memory, it is not about war in the “How to Tell a True War Story”. He is trying to explain that

After watching declining by degree film, my thoughts that American institutions have most defiantly been market driven and more commercialized in the past few years and have focused more on building reputation and facilities rather than a progressive education system. Also, the documentary focused on many different issues that influences directly on the student’s performance. For example, classes size, admission fees and part time faculty. It shows how all these factors affected students.

Although, the demonstrators were not only supporting the overthrow of American influences and their overstepping of boundaries in Iran, but also in actuality supporting the Iranian Revolution and the Islamic Revival throughout the Muslim World. The United States, who for years had played a significant role in Iran’s political and economic affairs, despite supporting and economizing off of core values that the Iranian and Islamic community believed to be immoral and corrupt, as well as planning secret missions to overthrow Iranian politicians for economic gain, had actually given Iran a long list of reasons to expel them and their influences from their social and political sphere, unlike the otherwise simplified reasons presented to the American people through the media. The Iran Hostage Crisis not only represents the first real conflict that the United States of America had with radical Islamic militants, but shows the great influence that the media has on portraying and forming the social identity of various peoples and historical events in the minds of its viewers. It also shows how the media can be used to manipulate the public 's minds through the creation and use of propaganda to change the course of history and to in turn benefit itself as a country.

Every year, millions of students across America attend a college or university hoping to further their education and prepare for the futures. The purpose of higher education is to create prepared minds and to help the students reach their full potential. However, the documentary Declining by Degrees, produced by the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) in 2005, questions and challenges the post-secondary education system. The documentary exposes the problems of modern day post-secondary institutes that are hindering the process of education for students. Despite the secrecy of it all, higher education is jeopardizing student’s learning because of issues within the education system surrounding research driven professors and grade inflation.

Sontag’s failed establishment of ethos stems from her lacking knowledge regarding the subject matter, as seen through her vague assertions and incomplete examples. Primarily, Sontag raises the question “how many citizens are aware of the ongoing American bombing of Iraq…” yet fails to give any sort of description or explanation of events (Sontag). While she establishes the idea that she clearly has more knowledge regarding the situation than the average citizen by questioning an occurrence most do not know about, Sontag fails to follow-up on her question, giving her dubious credibility.