What Is Bowling For Columbine Documentary Techniques

In the documentary “Bowling for Columbine” directed by Michael Moore there are two scenes that share the same idea of questioning the laws they have in the U.S.A. The first documentary that captivated my attention was the Columbine High School massacre, where Michael Moore examines the culture of guns and violence in America. He used archival footage, camera techniques and sound to give authenticity and strength to the disturbing event. Michael Moore uses specific techniques enabling the audience to empathize with the survivors and their loved ones in order for the viewers to feel their emotions. Graphics are used to first establish the scene of the Columbine shooting, “one hour later” appears on the black screen with white lettering, readying

As an audience the use of sound grasps your attention, and allows you to realize the reality of this terrible situation. The acoustic guitar is also symbolic as it is usually associated with soft and sad music. People in the audience may also relate the tone to ceremonial, funeral music therefore arousing existing emotions.There is a sudden change of mood as the archival emergency call is played as a voice-over. A lugubrious atmosphere emerges, the camera shows a close up and slowly zooms in on the entrance sign of the High School, “Columbine High School - home of the rebels”. These techniques are significant as it leads the viewers into contemplating about their own High Schools, creating emotional introspection. As a younger viewer it also enables me to empathise with the students being a similar age to the victims of the massacre. The severity of the situation is also felt through the use of sound as the audience can hear the trembling and distraught tones from the emergency calls. Archival sound footage further strengthens the authenticity of the crisis. As the distressed voices are heard as a voice-over, paired with the solemn sound of the acoustic guitar, the camera techniques further complements the disaster. The handheld

Only one light is on, making it appear more dull and lifeless, as if the hall continues on forever.The use of the handheld camera, provides shakiness to the scene therefore complementing the trembling voices being heard. The camera then continues to pan through the high school. As the archived emergency call changes to a panicked teacher, so does the footage. We now see what the CCTV surveillance cameras captured, again strengthening the authenticity of the event. The use of archival footage has a significant impact on the audience 's emotional status as we witness the realism of the event. The black and white video monitor has a very sharp contrast between what we had previously watched tracking down the High School halls. Before the scene was still dull and lifeless, but you could still see the colour in the building, however now we are able to see the black and white cold hearted reality of the crisis. Changes in colour portray the haunting experience in a symbolic way.The students are diving under tables, crawling for their safety, hoping not to be victimised. The audience acquires a natural motherly instinct wanting to help, but knowing they can’t, they feel hopeless. This is reinforced with the voiceover of the teacher screaming “under the tables kids, heads under the tables”. A small bomb is then thrown by the two killers, Moore uses sound to further seize the viewers attention. As the