Analysis Of David Attenborough's The Life Of Mammals

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David Attenborough’s The Life of Mammals: Meat Eaters and Steve Irwin’s Africa’s Deadliest Snakes are wildlife documentaries that have similar but different purposes. Attenborough uses a script that is rehearsed and the natural environment is followed, Irwin does not have a script and the animals are disturbed. However, both hosts inform the audience of the animal and how they function. Attenborough achieves this through the use of language and Irwin achieves this by being the presenter. Purpose, audience, context, language and form will be compared between the two texts.
Attenborough’s and Irwin’s purpose is to educate the audience and to inspire respect for the animal kingdom. Attenborough achieves this by using factual information to …show more content…

Attenborough prefers to use non-diegetic sound to enhance the animals speed or grace; this is generally done with the use of percussion instruments. Irwin tends to use non-diegetic sound when looking for the animal; through the use of African cultural music. Diegetic sound is common throughout Attenborough’s Meat Eaters this is done through the natural sounds of the animals, throughout Irwin’s Africa’s Deadliest Snakes the diegetic sound is the snakes hissing. Camera shots vary between both texts, Attenborough uses a majority of long shots and this is used to establish the area. Irwin uses a majority of medium shots which allows Irwin to always be in view, allowing the audience to know of his actions. Attenborough is rarely on screen which is exceedingly different from Irwin. Attenborough uses close-ups to show the animal, a significant scene is the cheetah hunting for its prey, whereas, Irwin uses close-ups to show emotion through facial expressions and significant details on the snakes. Although both texts use the same cinematic techniques, they are used in a variety of ways. The techniques used in Attenborough’s documentary are used to educate the viewer and to persuade a love for the animals. The techniques in Irwin’s documentary are used to entertain and persuade the

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