Bowling for Columbine

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What is Michael Moore trying to show us?
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What is his position on this issue?
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What techniques/conventions does he use to construct his position? Make notes in the table below:


STRUCTURE OF THE FILM
How is the film
structured/organised to
show Moores position?
How does the beginning set
up Moores position?
How does the end reinforce
Moores position?
How does the film unfold?
How does Moore present
his ideas?


USE OF INTERVIEWS
Who does he interview?
Which interviewees support
his position?
Which interviewees take a
different position?
Are there differences in the
way he presents the
interviews? What are they?

EDITING
Editing refers to the way the
film has been cut and put
together
How has the film been
edited? Fast cuts or slow
cuts?
What is the impact of this
on the film?

Bowling for Columbine

How does it help to create a
position
MONTAGES/JUXTAPOSITION
Why is the montage a
favourite technique utilized
by Moore?
What does he mean to
accomplish by the
montages?
When do the montages
become predominant?
Why?
Where does Moore use
juxtaposition? How does he
construct his position
through juxtaposition?

VOICE 0VER/NARRATION
Why does Moores voice-
over narration technique
begin to predominate
beginning in scene 36?
Where else in the later
scenes does his voice-over
predominate? What is he
trying to accomplish by
using this technique?


SOUNDTRACK/MUSIC
Where/when does Moore
use music? Which songs
does he use? How do they
contribute to creating his
position?
What sounds does Moore
use? When and where does
he use these sounds? What
effect do they have?

CINEMATIC TECHNIQUES
What kinds of camera shots
does Moore use?
Which camera shots are
important in creating a
position?
What angles does Moore
use? Which scenes use

Bowling for Columbine

particular angles to
construct their position?
What other film sources
does he use? Why? How do
they help him create his
position?
USE OF LOGOS
How does Moore use facts
and statistics to support his
position? Give examples.
How does Moore use
authorities to substantiate
his position? Give examples






USE OF PATHOS
How does Moore get his
audience to emphathise
(feel sorry)?
Give examples where he
creates emotion
How do these scenes
construct his position?
How do they affect the
audience?

USE OF HUMOUR/IRONY
Give examples of humour in
the film. Why are they
included? How do they
create a position?
Give examples of irony in
the film. Why are they
included? How do they help
create a position?