Monday, 9 December 2013

Bowling for Columbine

1. Describe the ways different people in the Documentary behaved, or the kinds of values and beliefs they displayed. Describe an element from the film to support your opinion.
 
 Some people in the film displayed their distaste for the American gun laws, while others believed the gun laws that were set in place were necessary. The people of America are fueled by fear and this leads them to believe the only way they can remain safe, or to protect their family is by owning a gun. The director of the film Michael Moore indicated throughout this documentary how opposed he was to the gun laws of America. He also showed his unsatisfacation regarding the enormous amounts of shootings in the USA. When Moore went to Canada he discovered how much more Canadians trusted each other in their community and how little fear they had of criminal offences. He interviewed a few Canadians regarding guns in their community. He discovered that Canadians had a similar amount of guns in their communities as Americans did, however the shooting rate was much lower than the USA. This inspired Moore to take action, by showing America that fear of the unknown is not necessary. By doing this I believe he hopes the shooting statistics will be lower.
 
2.  How much do you agree or disagree with the ways in which they behaved, or the kinds of values and beliefs they displayed? Explain your feelings and point of view by describing an element to support your opinion.
 
I thought for some aspects of the film Moore overstepped his boundaries a little bit. For example at the end of the film when he was criticizing Charlton Heston, he kept blaming him for having a pep rally (advertising the NRA(National Rifle Association)) after the shooting of the 6 year old girl at a school in Flint, Michigan. This man had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting and his only intentions was to make a profit from the NRA who he was advertising for. Moore decided to keep chasing him around his own home to gain answers from him about his intentions about the pep rally that happened later that afternoon (The afternoon when the girl was shot). I agree with Moore's opinion of the gun laws. I don't believe it to be necessary and it is only aiding in the violent acts of people within the different communities of America.
 
3.  Was there anything about the Documentary that was biased or omitted? If there was, why do you think things may have been left out?

Yes there were some biased opinions in the documentary. Moore was obviously very against the gun laws that were established in the United States and this was very evident in his film. I'm sure he isn't the only person in America with this opinion, however in a documentary you want to gain insight into both sides of the argument. Moore however (for the most part) gained insight into people who had the same beliefs as he did. I think he left out more opinions of citizens who are for the gun laws because it would be contradictory to his own opinion. Since his documentary is based on the outrageous gun laws of America it wouldn't be very fitting to have more than half your interviewees agreeing and supporting the law, which is the very thing that this documentary is disagreeing with.

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