1. Carefully presenting quantitive evidence in a way that is authentic and not contrived is essential to maintaining a trusting relationship with the audience, even if that requires the use of less elegant techniques, as Rabiger describes with his "A Remnant of Feudal Society" example. 2. Rabiger's argument about "Behalfers" working in self-interest when promoting someone else's point of view was enlightening. It is easy to see making a film and giving a voice to the voiceless as selfless charity, when it is often, in fact, a self-aggrandizing act. As such, it is important for the filmmakers to give the subjects a say in the way that they are presented, so their image is not distorted by the filmmaker's self-centered perspective. 3. I would
As a director, discuss how you would stage the following extract from ‘Our Country’s Good’ in order to bring out your interpretation of it for an audience.
Documentarians often want to get as close to their subject matter as possible. Some documentarians have an insider perspective which ignites a spark to create a piece that illuminates a specific topic or area of study. There are also documentarians that have no affiliation with said subject matter, but want to explore the topic in question. Finally, there are documentarians that have a foot in both worlds. Insider/outsider is a theory in which a documentarian can be close to a subject, but also possess characteristics or traits that make them distant from the topic in question (Coles, 1998). Such is the case with the directors of both Stranger with a Camera and The House I Live In. Due to their own location, both Eugene Jarecki and Elizabeth Barret exhibit characteristics that make them fall into the insider/outsider roles as directors. Robert Coles defines location by stating, “We notice what we notice because of who we are” (Coles, 1998, p. 7). Included in this is, a person’s education, race, class, and gender. Both directors realize they are outsiders and utilize a lens into a world in which they are not otherwise a part of. Jarecki’s lens comes in the form of Nanny Jeter, his family’s nanny from when he was a child. Barret’s lens for her documentary is the community that she shared with Ison. The two directors enter into a world that they are not a part of because of their location, but forge a connection to the subject matter through means of a lens.
Then Cikovsky uses evidence to bring the audience to the same level of understanding within his argument. He does so by historical references and comparisons to gather his meaning for his analysis.
Society tends to associate propaganda films with issues such as Nazi Germany and their film messages for their country; however, it is also possible for small independent companies, groups of like-minded people and individuals to use the media of film to incorporate messages for our society (The Independent, 2010). These messages are often in relation to changes that individuals should make in order to improve the standards by which they live their lives and changes to everyday habits that will benefit the individual, the individual’s family, a group of individuals or even a single person (Barnhisel and Turner, 2010).
For example, Coburn uses quantitative evidence to further emphasize his claim that NASA’s projects have not been as productive as people may think. He states that the entire Apollo program, all 17 missions and 6 moon landings, cost around $108 billion, and he declares that “$100 billion could [have] fund the National Cancer Institution for 20 years.” The author uses this evidence to appeal to his audience that the use of the money could have been put to better use. As a result, his evidence impacts the individual reading his article, and makes them think that NASA’s funding could have been used more rationally. Moreover, the author uses notable sources like the Guinness World Record to claim that at $100 billion NASA holds the position of the “most expensive man-made object” and other sources like the Government Accountability Office to claim that NASA has not been truthful about the actual amount of funding the agency needs to spend before the year 2021. In general, Coburn’s evidence is used to persuade his audience that NASA’s funding could be put to other things that could be more productive. He does so by ethically and logically appealing to his
6. What aspects of this film fit into the documentary film genre, and what aspects appear more purely propagandistic?
It is known that one of the industries that reflect a multitude of human stereotypes is in the cinema. Although this may be true, to some people it is not completely obvious; especially if the stereotyped individual in the film is different from the person watching. The 2009 remake of the movie Fame has numerous moments that represent mediated stereotypes between different races. Using examples from Ramirez-Berg in his piece, “Stereotypes in Film”, the stereotypes I recognized were much more clear. Additionally, cinematic devices such as scripting, costuming, and sound effects played a role when discussing oppressed populations (Ramirez Berg).
Minow’s push for beneficial, valuable broadcasting led to the eruption of documentaries. Despite public opinion, documentaries can have ulterior motives for content such as propaganda and subjective aims. According to Minow’s speech, “program materials should enlarge the horizons of the viewer, provide him with wholesome entertainment, afford helpful stimulation, and remind him of the responsibilities which the citizen has toward his society” (Minow). All television entertainment should be designed to present the viewer with an unbiased view. In Harvest of Shame,
Have you ever endured an adversity in life? How did you progress through it? Was it the music that motivated you, a quote that inspired you, or a film that opened up your eyes to another world you never thought was possible? Through my diverse voice I would hook my audience by dedicating the film to people facing the same hardship the main character is enduring. For instance, in one of my screenplays entitled, “The Secret of the 1%” I would dedicate the film to the handworker that stays up all hours of the night to finish their work. Conversely if they cannot relate to the film through the line of dedication, I would try to inspire them throughout the movie. In the film entitled, “Against My Parent’s Will” if it were allowed I would play
Although some statistical evidence given is not backed with proper citations, the reader can find that the evidence given is effective in proving her point.
Film can play an important role in changing and improving social and political problems. As seen
1. I like this because it has thesis statement, strong three supporting details, and reliable evidence. This essay is very effective that state his position strongly, “it is their social responsibility to avoid stereotyping ethnic characters because they are harming society by exploiting racial stereotypes, undermining ethnic groups, and the fact that they are very influential.” The writer express his opinion well in this essay, especially, I liked he used the statistic facts to provide the evidence of how much Hollywood is influential to people.
Another method is the use of statistics. These statistics show that audience that there is actual data backing up what the author is saying.
The movie industry is for entertainment purposes. For many people, going to the movies is an escape; time to sit back and become someone else. However, once in a rare moment then a movie comes out that is not just foe entertainment and dares to address a controversial issue. “The Blind Side” and “Precious” are two movies that I was very surprised at my reaction to them. My reasons for wanting to see both movies were as different as night and day. I went to see the “Blind Side” because it is based on a true story and Sandra Bullock is the leading lady. Yet, “Precious” doesn’t have a famous leading lady, but the previews were so intense and so realistic that it pulled me in. “The Blind Side” and “Precious” are
The resistance form of discourse can be understood by French postmodernist Michel Foucault, who is one of the few writers that recognises power as negative but argues power is a necessary and a positive thing in society (Gaventa, 2003). This can be argued with independent films as the discourse of the films showing realistic narratives has the ability to relate to people’s lives in society. Mainstream films offer audiences escapism whereas independent films allow audiences to think for themselves, to create a conversation and to question everything they have watched in the last 90 minutes. Power has the ability to ‘represses or censor’ (Foucault and Sheridan, 1991) and that is what mainstream films show, however independent films allow audiences