How Manipulative is Michael Moore in His Filmmaking?

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at one of America's top documentary producers Michael Moore. In particular, the paper focuses on Moore's documentary, "Bowling for Columbine", a film on the gun culture and its wider political significance in the United States. The paper describes several creative and dramatic techniques of Moore's filmmaking to manipulate the audience into sharing his disdain of America's fascination with firearms and violence and discusses the ethical obligations involved in producing documentaries such as "Bowling for Columbine". The paper analyzes possible reasons as to why Moore chooses to use such exploitative techniques to express his views on gun culture but concedes that in spite of the controversy surrounding the film, it has undoubtedly succeeded in bringing the complex issue of America's relationship with firearms to the foreground of public debate.

From the Paper:

"This has led to suspicions being raised concerning the modern documentary's commitment to realism, along with the ethical obligations involved in producing such a film. On the other hand, the considerable disagreement over the very definition of the term "documentary", has prompted some to praise Moore's approach to filmmaking, describing it as a dramatic and creative expression of reality. In spite of the controversy surrounding the film, however, it has undoubtedly succeeded in bringing the complex issue of America's relationship with firearms to the foreground of public debate."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Corner, John, "Documentary Theory", in The art of record: a critical introduction to documentary. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1996.
• Hardy, David, Bowling For Columbine: Documentary or Fiction? (http://www.hardylaw.net/Truth_About_Bowling.html).
• Ronson, Jon, "The Egos Have Landed", in Imagining Reality. Ed. Mark Cousins. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 2006.
• Skovmand, Michael, Bowling For Columbine: "I Want Them To Leave Angry" (http://pov.imv.au.dk/Issue_16/section_1/artc3A.html).
• Winston, Brian, Claiming The Real: The Documentary Film Revisited. London: British Film Institute, 1999.

More papers on How Manipulative is Michael Moore in His Filmmaking?:

• Film Review # 72210 : "Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11"
• Persuasive Essay # 57230 : "Michael Moore"
• Film Review # 115174 : "Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine"

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