Examples Of Stereotypes In Bowling For Columbine

Representation matters- as Jim Morrison said, ‘Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.’ In ‘Bowling for Columbine’, representation is important as there are many stereotypes surrounding gun violence which attribute to the way it is handled in real life. Throughout the film we see how pre-existing prejudice clouds our judgment and contributes to mistreatment of different groups of people, a fact which Moore explores throughout ‘Bowling for Columbine’ to push his anti-government beliefs specifically surrounding gun violence.

Point #1: Bowling for Columbines’s representation of the idiotic and violent white male American.

The idea that white males are idiotic and violent is an idea not limited to America. Being what is historically considered

Experiencing prejudice makes these minorities more socially aware and considerate, prejudice being something white men are not on the recieving end of. ‘Bowling for Columbine’ interviews many men that fit this description, with all those supporting gun freedom for America being white men or at least white. One of the first scenes interviews James Nichols, brother of Terry Nichols or the Oklahoma City bomber, who tells Moore that he has a ‘.44 magnum under [his] pillow’ and then proceeds to cock it and put it to his own temple. This is clearly an idiotic thing to do, and the lack of hesitation he has hints at a penchant for violence. Moore uses footage of Charlton Heston to further create this link of violence and white men- five term president of the National Rifle Association in America, an organisation founded in 1871 to promote rifle shooting and oppose gun laws. In the week following the

Windsor Police are quick to report to Moore that the only shooting they can recall occuring in Windsor was carried out by a man from Detroit, with several citizens confirming they cannot recall any Canadian perpetrators within the last few years. Moore then goes on to New York city and interviews locals about their thoughts on Canadians and gun violence- many reported factually incorrect statements such as ‘Canadian’s dont watch as many violent movies’, suggesting that these are the reasons the rate of gun violence is lower in Canada. Moore cuts back to Canada, showing us several young boys waiting for a horror movie showing. These statements from American citizens prove that while gun violence rates are lower in Canada, American’s are reluctant to admit that it’s because of stricter gun laws, instead making excuses for themselves such as saying the poverty rate is higher in the United States- again, inherently incorrect as unemployment rates in Canada were up 1.76% in comparison to America as of 2002. ‘Bowling for Columbine’ suggests that the lower rate of gun violence is due to their left-wing government that allows for better health care, school systems and elderly care. Mayor of Sarnia Mike Bradley acknowledges this fact about the right-wing American government saying ‘they pick on the people that can’t support themselves and at the same time they’re turning around and giving