Title: The
Artistry of Persuasion
By: Amanda Adamek
Personal Response to
Film:
I have recently begun watching documentaries and was excited
we’d be analyzing one in class. When the film was introduced and I’d learned it
would be centered on a crime, I became even more interested. I’ve always loved crime shows and recently
read Bryan Stevenson’s book, Just Mercy, which
follows his journey as a lawyer fighting for the falsely accused on death row.
This film seemed to include elements from a variety of my interests. As I was
watching the movie in class, I found that I enjoyed the reenactments of how the
crime may have occurred. However, I kept thinking that the film’s director, in
a way it did not feel authentic, and was swaying me instead of informing.
During these scenes I was also reminded of Casa
Blanca, because of the Film Noir elements incorporated in the film. Throughout the course of this semester I’ve
learned a lot about the artistry in cinema, however I’d never associated
documentaries with being artistic. This film surprised me, and made me a more
self-aware as I watched.
Summary of Critical
Article:
I chose the critical article, “The
Thin Blue Line and the Ambiguous Truth” by Lucien J. Flores. In his
article, Flores addresses how the audience is persuaded to believe Adam’s is
innocent through a variety of stylistic
editing tactics. Flores states that “The Thin Blue Line makes us recognize
that the truth is difficult to ascertain and we simply cannot blindly accept
what is presented to us...” (Para. 1). He goes on to compare how the
prosecution persuaded the jury in the film by the way they painted Adam’s as
being a social deviant who was likely to commit a crime. Flores highlights that
Morris personally believed in Adam’s innocence, and used editing to convince
the audience to agree with him, just as the prosecution had done to the jury.
Response to Critical
Article:
This article helped me to understand how difficult it can be
to assess an issue from an unbiased perspective, because as viewers (or jurors
in this case) we can be subconsciously swayed. Flores’ comparison of the
prosecutions persuasive measures as well as the tactics used by Morris made me
realize that what appears to be the truth can be easily manipulated. This was
also surprising to me because I had always believed documentaries to be a tool
that revealed the truth, but I’ve now learned to be skeptical of what I’m
watching. The article also made me think back to a conversation we’d had in
class, regarding the stylistic, Film Noir elements of the reenactments. In his
article, Flores quotes John O’Connor, who states that“’…the reenactments are designed to facilitate
that process of going back there in the mind’ of the interviewees and to ‘take
people deeper and deeper into the ambiguities of the case, not to show what
really happened’” (Meyer 54; O’Connor). This made me question whether or not
the reenactments, while effective, may be an inappropriate element to include
in a documentary. Although the reenactments were not the sole persuasive method
used, they did appear to be the most theatrical, and this article make me question
their appropriateness within the genre.
Consideration of
Critic’s Use of Critical frameworks/concepts:
Flores used
a formalist approach to analyze the ways in which Morris used the artistry of
film to persuade the audience. An example of this exists in the interviews when Morris uses lighting, reenactments, music, and background settings to persuade the audience's opinion.
Film Analysis:
This scene
opens with the defense attorney, Edith James, describing how Mrs. Miller’s
witness testimony affected the outcome of the trial. The scene then goes to an
interview with Mrs. Miller, who explains her love of solving crimes which stems
back to her childhood. While what the interviewees are saying is important, the
editing Morris chose to use works to subconsciously mold the validity of their
statements. When James is speaking there is no music in the background and the lighting
is bright, giving the feeling of alertness. In the background the shades are
drawn, and it appears that she may be sitting in an office or a professional
setting. These choices made James’ interview come across as direct and factual.
James goes
on to explain Miller’s testimony and the scene then opens to Mrs. Miller’s
interview; which is aesthetically very different. The lighting is shadowy and
dark. There is a closet door in the background; showing she is most likely
sitting in her home. When she begins speaking, circuslike music begins to play
softly in the background, making her seem childlike and unreliable. Her interview also includes scenes from an
old detective movie, which adds to the story-like feel of her interview. The
editing choices made here lead the viewer to view James as an educated
professional, whose opinion is likely to be trusted; whereas Miller is
portrayed as a less serious person whom the audience may not find as credible.
Works Cited (MLA) or
References (APA):
