User:Scriptgeek/Sandbox
After 9/11 numerous films started appearing that were propaganda either for or against the War on Terror. Among them were United 93,”“Fahrenheit 9/11,” and “World Trade Center.” These three films sparked debate among Americans and helped to shape and form opinions of what the United States’ government was doing in regards to the events that occurred.
Propaganda films are created in such a way that the audience is not aware that what they are watching is intended to persuade them to think one way or another. As Nancy Show stated in her book, propaganda "begins where critical thinking ends." [1] Michael Moore, in regards to his film "Fahrenheit 9/11" is among one of the films that is up for debate regarding this issue. In "Fahrenheit 9/11," many critics claim that this film is completely propaganda. Moore is often criticized for using "techniques of persuasion"[2] in this blockbuster. For instance, one of the techniques Moore uses in his film is omitting some of the truth so as to develop a feeling of anguish within the viewers. An example, would be omitting when planes hit the towers, instead he just shows the aftermath. Because he films it this way, he fills the audience with anguish rather than with feelings of revenge[3] . However, Moore is a the filmmaker and he reserves the right to present the effects of 9/11 in whichever way he chooses since he has the creative right. But, on the other side, the way that Moore filmed "Fahrenheit 9/11" was done in a way for the audience to feel compassion towards the attack and to be against the War on Terror. Since Michael Moore succeeded to portraying his opinion in such a passive way that the audience isn't using an objective lens when viewing the material, Moore's blockbuster is considered a propaganda film against the War on Terror.
After "Fahrenheit 9/11" was released, "Fahrenhype 9/11" was then released by director Alan Petersen. Although this film did not receive nearly as much press as "Fahrenheit 9/11," it was created in an attempt to fight back on what Michael Moore tried to persuade his audience to believe[4]. Alan Petersen, among others, believed "Fahrenheit 9/11" to be a film that was "the Road Runner of manipulation...removing all avenues of thought through over-determination...leaving no room for the viewer's own judgement"[5]. However, other critics will view Moore's film as a cinematic masterpiece.
You also then have Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center, released by Paramount, being showcased in theaters as well. However, unlike Michael Moore's blockbuster, Stone's movie is not portrayed as upfront and political as Moore's. According to some film critics, Oliver Stone's mosive "depicts few events that blatantly contradict official explanations of what caused the Twin Towers to come down[6]."
- ^ Snow, Nancy (2003). Information War: American Propaganda, Free Speech and Opinion Control Since 9-11. New York: Seven Stories Press. p. 22.
- ^ Dean, Jeremy. "9 Propaganda Techniques in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11". PsyBlog. Jeremy Dean. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ Dean, Jeremy. "9 Propaganda Techniques in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11". PsyBlog. Jeremy Dean. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ MIchalski, Milena (2007). War, Image and Legitimacy. New York: Routledge. p. 99.
- ^ MIchalski, Milena (2007). War, Image and Legitimacy. New York: Routledge. p. 99.
- ^ Hoffman, Jim. "World Trade Center: A Film Directed by Oliver Stone". Retrieved 11 October 2011.