Persuasive Devices in Documentary Filmmaking: Moore Vs. Psihoyos

A documentary is a film which incorporates factual topics. These films have a variety of aims; to record events and ideas, inform and persuade viewers, convey opinions, and create public interest. A number of common persuasive techniques are used in documentaries to achieve these aims. For example: music and foley, irony and repetition, and live and archival footage. The two documentaries that will be discussed in this essay are The Cove and Bowling for Columbine. The Cove is a documentary by Louie Psihoyos which explores dolphin enslavement and slaughter in Taiji, Japan, and Bowling for Columbine is a documentary by Michael Moore which explores gun violence in the US and the circumstances leading to the Columbine High School massacre. Persuasive techniques seen in both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine are emotional appeal, live and archival footage, and irony. Through the use of these techniques, the filmmakers of these documentaries, Michael Moore and Louie Psihoyos, help convey their message and persuade the audience.

In both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine emotional appeal is used to persuade the audience. Emotional appeal is a method of persuasion that is designed to provoke emotion in a viewer or audience. This technique highlights emotional factors, sometimes instead of the logical or practical factors, manipulating feelings in the audience. An example of this in Bowling for Columbine is when victims of the Columbine High School massacre are shown distressed and in tears shortly after the shooting. They explained through tears how they had to beg for their lives with a gun at their heads and other students being shot around them. This scene transfers this distress and emotion to the viewer, helping us emphasize with the victims and making us feel like we need to do something to help. An example of this device, found in The Cove is when Ric O’Barry shares the story of Flipper’s suicide with the audience and how she could not bear life anymore. This story fills the viewer with strong emotion for Flipper and other dolphins in the same position, as well as the intelligence she must have had to do such a thing, making the viewer want to help. These scenes from both documentaries persuade the audience through emotion to side with Michael Moore and Louie Psihoyos’ arguments. With such high emotion comes low intelligence, meaning the viewer can’t rationalize why this might be happening and quickly jumps to the point of anger for the opposing side. Emotion is used to persuade the audience to agree with the argument, and in both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine this technique is successful.

In both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine live and archival footage is used to persuade the audience. Live and archival footage is the use of film, as well as audio, such as newsreel, CCTV, or other footage taken of and at the time of the event that reinforces the validity or facts of what is being presented. An example of this in Bowling for Columbine is through the use of CCTV footage capturing the terrifying shooting unfold in the school lunch hall. It shows pupils of Columbine hiding under the tables in the lunch hall whilst the two antagonists walk around in a very casual manner whilst holding armed guns. As well as the visuals on screen, we can hear 911 calls from pupils and teachers of the school in the background from that fateful day. An example of this in The Cove is through the use of footage caught by hidden cameras of the slaughter of many dolphins by fishermen. This is where we see how grisly the slaughter really is and the horrendous treatment of dolphins. We see the water turning red, dolphins struggling to stay above water before they become motionless, and the adversary stabbing the dolphins with what appear to be spears. This technique gives the audience a deeper insight and rationality on the topic. As well as the emotion these scenes come with, these scenes have a great effect on the viewers’ state of mind and overall thought on the matter. Live and archival footage is used to persuade the audience to agree with the argument, and in both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine this technique is successful.

In both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine irony is used to persuade the audience. Irony is the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. An example of this in Bowling for Columbine is where a variety of clips are played expressing violence and conflict while ‘Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong is played. While being bombarded with images of suffering and death we hear the words “what a wonderful world,” which do not correlate. Another example in Bowling for Columbine is when we see the sign for Columbine High School, with the motto; “Home of the Rebels” along with a picture of a soldier holding a gun. An example of this in The Cove is where the Taiji dolphin enslavement and slaughter is said to be a part of Japanese culture, but how can it be their culture and tradition when most of the Japanese population do not even know about it or that it is happening. Another example In The Cove is the countless models and images of dolphins and whales in the town of Taiji and words written on a wall “We Love Dolphins.” Quote; “If you didn’t know what’s going on over here you would think, this is a town that loves dolphins and whales.” These visuals and audio tell the viewer the opposite to what is really happening, making it seem like a cover up in a way and that the issue is not being properly addressed. Irony can make the audience feel uncomfortable, meaning they emphasize more with the situation. Irony is used to persuade the audience to agree with the argument, and in both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine this technique is successful.

Persuasive techniques are used in documentaries to persuade an audience. Both The Cove and Bowling for Columbine use techniques which are successful and have an influence on the viewer. These persuasive techniques are emotional appeal, live and archival footage, and irony. Filmmakers Michael Moore and Louie Psihoyos use persuasive devices in their documentaries to convince the viewer to agree with their arguments.