The documentary An
Inconvenient Truth begins with multiple shots of Al Gore from behind. He faces the crowd as bright lights shine up
at him. It is clear that the power of his message reaches many people. But how
much of his message is facts, and how much of it is pure rhetoric? Throughout
the movie I had to ask myself a few times: “What is this film even about?”
On the hunt for rhetorical strategies used by
Gore, I found that occasionally the movie gets off track for the sake of
convincing the audience of Gore’s beliefs. It is not that I don’t belief in the
reality of global warming; I just find the amount of manipulation present in
the film incredible.
In the beginning, Gore uses a comical, animated film to
explain the basics of global warming. The clip’s comical nature makes Gore more
likable because he appears to have a sense of humor, something viewers can
relate to. He admits to totaling the family car as a teen. He is human after
all, just like the rest of us. Gore brings himself down to his audience’s
level, and he slyly causes us to want to agree with him. Proudly stating his
experience as a student of the first person to record the atmosphere’s CO2
levels, Gore’s credibility rises.
As for Gore’s use of pathos, there is more than one example.
The soundtrack swells dramatically as Gore recounts almost losing his son.
Although it has nothing to do with global warming, this tear jerking moment
makes all viewers ask themselves Gore’s own question: “How should I spend my
time on this earth?” He states: “I gained an ability that maybe I didn’t have
before. But when I felt it, I really felt that we could lose it.” We have grown
to like Gore and, and we take his plea to heart. The strongest tug on my
heartstrings came as the poor polar bears struggle to survive. I felt
personally responsible and willing to do anything to save the bears.
The film finishes with captivating credits very similar to
those in Waiting for Superman. Just
as the first time I viewed An
Inconvenient Truth, I am shaken by what I have seen. But now, more familiar
with the art of persuasion, I am skeptical to believe everything I have just been shown.
"Off the charts" Scene of An Inconvenient Truth
After reading your post, I'm glad I can see little different perspective on the film. When I watched the parts of Al Gore putting personal stories in, I was so confused but now I have a better understanding. I am also shaken by what I saw, but don't know what to believe. Were his facts legit, or did he just put in a bunch of numbers to scare us and make it sound good so the film would sell?
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew whether or not the facts were legit. Sadly we live in an age of information, where most of what we are fed is false and fabricated.Read this and maybe that will help: http://www.skepticalscience.com/al-gore-inconvenient-truth-errors.htm
DeleteI agree that Gore is guilty, on more than one count, of manipulating the viewer into trusting him. As I watched the movie, I found myself wondering why it was necessary for him to include clips and stories of himself as a child in a documentary that was supposed to present the facts about global warming. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it was a very interesting read!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one. Thanks!
DeleteThis was my first time watching "An Inconvenient Truth," but I've been hearing about it for so long that I was expecting something different. Like you, I was surprised by the amount of Al Gore's life story present in the film and the way he tried to manipulate the audience's emotions. However, I have to admit that his techniques worked on me. Right after watching, I was all fired up to stop global warming. If I hadn't had to reflect on the film for class, I probably wouldn't have considered some of the things that turned me off to it. So it seems to me like his manipulation is a little more justifiable if it inspires people for his cause.
ReplyDeleteGore's message also got me fired up about global warming the first time I viewed the film. I guess my point is that, in election time especially, we need to be critical thinkers. If we ultimately choose to believe bias we are being fed, we must address the presence of the bias.
DeleteI love your writing style! Easy to read, but brings up some important questions. Likewise, I was skeptical to believe everything in this documentary. I found the parts about Gore's personal life to not fit in with his message. I still am not sure why these are included in a documentary about global warming. Are they there to create pathos for Gore? Arouse emotional support? I'm just not sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I believe Gore uses his personal stories to arouse our emotions. We then feel compassion for his cause. Pathos at it again!
DeleteI, like you, am completely convinced as to the human impact on climate change and the unbearable bias within 'An Inconvenient Truth'. The reason why the bias is so unbearable is that fact that there are viewers out there who have watched this film completely discrediting the event of climate change, because of the amount of liberal bias used. I think the message of the urgency of global warming would have touched the heart of a larger demographic if Al Gore would have discarded his political experience from the film. Even if Gore had talking in a nonpartisan, politically, way the film could have been taken seriously by conservatives or libertarians watching the documentary.
ReplyDeleteExactly! In the case of documentaries, "less is more." People who already don't agree with Gore politically are definitely going to be turned off by the never-ending rhetoric in this film. His important message on global warming is then completely ignored. Thanks for the comment!
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