Bowling For Columbine: Film Analysis

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Recommended: Controversies of gun control and restrictions

Discussion Post 9 – EM101

I believe film can be very effective in creating awareness around the issue of violence of education, as films I watched around the topic of violence during high school have resonated with me. I previously watched Bowling for Columbine in grade 11, and was very surprised to see how gun control was in the United States in Comparison to Canada. As I watched the film for the second time during this week’s lesson I remembered many scenes vividly, as the issues discussed in the film are very informative and were easily communicated though the film.

In the film, there is a scene where an individual working at the bank explains to Michael Moore the process of getting a free gun if he opened an account with them. This scene was very surprising for myself as I could visualize how easy the process is to acquire a gun in the United States. I believe viewing this scene in a film, opposed to reading about it, is more informative to the viewer because they witness the actual process. Film can communicate a message that causes an emotional reaction to the viewer. I think if I were to read the same dialogue between the bank and Moore it would not have the same impact on me as it does not create a strong emotional reaction. I think audio also has …show more content…

Biographical films regarding education usually communicate issues of violence with a slight fictional aspect to create entertainment. However, documentaries are very effective because they incorporate the actual scenarios that occurred, narrated by actual witnesses and experts. In Bowling for Columbine, Moore justifies the causes the Columbine Massacre by exploring real life events that made caused tragedy, such as examples of gun control in the U.S and looking in depth at the American perspectives on gun laws, which educates the viewer through an accurate

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