13th is a documentary created in 2016 that discusses this era of mass incarceration that is fueled by racism and economic motives. This documentary was written and directed by Ava DuVernay, who also directed the film Selma. 13th explores the history leading up to this era of mass incarceration and how race plays a major role, not only in in the past, but as well as the present. This films brings to light history that many of us were not taught in school. 13th aims to inform white america about mass incarceration and its relation to race inequality through the use of differing interviews, powerful media, and shock value. The interviews conducted in the film help to illuminate the reason behind it, as well as address counter points. According …show more content…
She provided first hand experience of racial discrimination and hardships as a leader of the civil rights movement, which gave an air of credibility to this documentary. They also used her responses as a stark contrast for counterpoints made by opposing conservatives, which made these counterpoints look foolish. Another prime example of contrasting interviews that make the opposing side look foolish is when the representative of ALEC constantly says starkly different statements to the facts presented by other professors and activists, who are experts on the subject. Then they use what the ALEC representative says to prove or go along with other points, like the movement of ALEC’s focus to GPS monitoring, which makes the statements seem quite credible. However, …show more content…
Photos and videos from the time of slavery to the present show the different struggles that black people in America have faced and are still facing today. The use of music and displaying pertinent lyrics on the screen furthered the point that these struggles have been going on for years and just change name and form. The media in the film also act as shock value to the viewers. Seeing someone who was lynched, or beaten until they had horrific scars, or even being shot numerous times is directed at our pathos. It is trying to get the point across that the people in these videos are human beings and that we need to treat them as such. The emotions provoked by the media leave strong, lasting impressions on the viewer which serves as a call to action. The film acknowledges the power of media throughout time, and this is why the media within the film are essential to proving this point and repeatedly using it as pathos, and ethos in the sense that the media they use proves that these things have and continue to