Bowling For Columbine Documentary Techniques

Cinematic techniques are applied throughout the documentary to persuade and position the audience in order to take Michael Moore’s viewpoint on gun control. During the controversial documentary ‘Bowling for Columbine’ there are a number of social issues that are present. Moore generally focuses around the issue of gun control and violence within America, however he also mentions and investigates poverty and racial differences and how the effects of these relates back to America’s high rate of violence. While discussing these highly sensitive subjects, he certainly overexaggerates and makes wild claims, however somehow is still able to position and persuade the audience to agree to the wild claims he is making. This is evident through the abundance

This is the reason for which music is used within the documentary. By being able to influence the way people feel, it’s easier to position them into believing point that is trying to be put across. This is especially evident during the following clip where the music is presented in a biased way. (PLAY ‘Wonderful World’ CLIP) The music present within the previous clip is biased due to the fact that it uses irony and sarcasm. While the words ‘what a wonderful world’ are being sung, pictures of death and destruction are playing on the screen. This causes people to call into question the safety and security of America and begin to wonder if it is due to their lax laws on gun control. While this song is playing their is also a montage playing on screen, this is also another technique which presents information in a biased format. During the montage only distressing, disturbing and violent images are shown to cause a strong emotional reaction, as shown, the images depict people killing themselves and others in the documentary, however it is also neglecting to also share the positive side of