Similarities Between The Cove And Blackfish

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How have the filmmakers of The Cove and Blackfish used techniques to generate empathy for animal rights?

A documentary intent is to educate and inform their audience on a certain topic or social change. Blackfish (2014) directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite strongly argues that Orcas should not be held in captivity, and having the Orcas in captivity is not only harmful to the animals, but also to humans working with them. It focuses on showcasing how killer whales are highly intelligent, social and emotional animals that should be kept in the wild. The Cove (2009), directed by Louie Psihoyos, explores the town of Taiji which from the outside looks like a Japanese town with a love of dolphins, but showcases the horrible truth of the slaughter …show more content…

The Cove uses Ric O’Barry former trainer of Flipper; which was a TV show in the 60s that made the world love dolphins. Psihoyos uses O’Barry as a huge persuasive technique with him changing sides from the commercialisation to the conservation of dolphins. O’Barry is shown as an example if he can change sides, then so can the viewer. Likewise, Blackfish uses this same technique with numerous interviewees from former SeaWorld trainers to show us that people who worked so closely with the animal in captivity loathe how SeaWorld treats them and so should the viewer. Cowperthwaite uses interviews to evoke emotion with John Jett one of the formal trainers saying in an interview “When you look into their eyes, you know someone is home. Someone is looking back” He has tried to make the viewer no longer see the whales as animals but to try to humanise them. In The Cove when the interviews are with the protagonist the interviewee has had time to plan their answers, which gives the impression of well-informed, truthful and educated answer. When the interview is with the antagonist interviewee they are given questions on the spot and they have to scramble to answer portraying them as less credible. These examples show how the documentaries are very deliberate in how they choose to interview others to further their …show more content…

Psihoyos uses music as an extremely influential technique with a scene of dolphins shown swimming free in the wild. “You have to see them in the wild to understand why captivity doesn’t work” Wondrous music (harp, piano) plays in the background. Psihoyos uses this technique to try to showcase that dolphins belong in the wild. Another example is when Ric the protagonist of the documentary takes on the IWC triumphant music is played in the background which makes you want to side with Ric and fight the bad guy. Cowperthwaite uses music throughout the documentary is suspenseful, portraying the whales in captivity as “ticking time bombs”. Anything could happen, at anytime. It keeps you on edge. These examples show how documentary filmmakers can use music to manipulate their audience to feel a certain way about the content and therefore persuade the opinion of

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