Bowling for columbine Free Essays

As you can tell from the title of the movie â€Å"Bowling for Columbine† or if you have watched it, it is based on the high school shooting that had occurred in Littleton, Colorado and how gun use in America has led to violence among everyone, even teenagers. Bowling for Columbine opens with a very weird first impression that became famously touted by critics promoting the movie. Moore walks into a bank that is holding an unusual promotion, open an account with a bank with a minimum deposit, and you get a hunting rifle. We will write a custom essay sample on Bowling for columbine or any similar topic only for you Order Now It seemed too outrageous to be true†¦but after filling out the paperwork and receiving his  money, the bank presents him with his new gun. I didn’t know how banks can give out guns (after all people rob banks with guns not toys! ). Michael Moore uses Bowling for Columbine as an example of what can happen when guns are in the hands of disturbed teens and disturbed people and he blames it on the guns and those who sell them. This movie shows the reality that we face every day in the USA and how it can prevented. Also mentioned in the movie is how Marilyn Manson had to do with the Columbine death but because of the lack of information on how Marilyn Manson was not the blame for Columbine and also how every time a gun related crime happened, the president of the NRA would present a gun intervention in the same city which I personally think is absorb and ridiculous (it really gets on my nerves! ). Michael Moore interviews members of the Michigan Militia, which is a group of people who spend a lot of time shooting guns in the countryside. From there, he moves on to teenagers who live in the towns of Michigan where he grew up, to survivors of the Columbine Massacre, to various people in Canada, who seem to like guns as much as Americans do, but who still don’t murder each other nearly as frequently. In the end, Moore asks a lot of questions about the nature of American society, and while he doesn’t always give us answers, he does conclude that the United States is a nation that is filled with both too many guns and way too much fear. My favorite part of the movie is when Moore marches two surviving teen victims, bullets lodged in their bodies into Kmart and show how easily bullets and ammunition can be out with no type of license or anything and when later on they when to the Kmart company and displayed all the ammunition they had bought from Kmart in there lobby and had brought news crews in as well. That same day, a Kmart spokesperson, in front of the live cameras announced that they will suspended the sales of ammunition in all Kmart stores and Michael Moore and the 2 students never thought that it would come down to this! Also Moore had said something which I really found amusing, he said â€Å"Are we a country of gun nuts or just nuts? † and I think we are a little bit of both. I myself am against gun rights in America, but in a way it is impossible to stop selling guns because if the sales of guns were to be illegal, guns would be sold on the streets illegally and guns would increase and cause more crime. In my opinion I say one less gun, one less tragedy, but it’s not always the guns fault, it’s how the media directs fear into people’s minds as the movie had directed many times. A part of the movie was concentrated on Canada and how they are almost similar to us but you never see their news being a bad influence to its people. Fear causes people to believe everything they are told. Always have in mind that Guns don’t kill people, people kill people! The way I would amend the 2nd amendment is first I would make strict laws on the ways how you can purchase guns. If you wanted to purchase a gun anywhere in the United State, you would have to apply 5 months in advance and write a 2 page explanation of why you want to buy this certain weapon. You would also have to have at least a High school diploma and have attended college or be employed and your boss would have to give a â€Å"Ok† on purchasing a weapon. Second, I would increase the prices of guns and ammunition by 200% so now one can afford to buy guns unless they find it necessary to own any type of weapon. Third, I’d place a GPS tracker on every single gun imported or made in the United States, and make a new law that where ever you have purchased the weapon within the state, you cannot take that weapon out of the state without notification to the Dealership which the weapon had been purchased and if you were to break any of these law, there will be a minimum of 2 years sentence because gun ownage is nothing to joke around with. I as American would feel much safer if such laws would exist. I conclude that even with all the violence that occurs on our streets today, even one person can make a difference in not buying a hand gun of any kind. We as students need more social awareness, parental interaction, and protection by our existing laws. We are the future of our country and we can make a difference one step at a time! How to cite Bowling for columbine, Papers Bowling For Columbine Free Essays When Michael Moore’s BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE was initially released, many thought that the documentary was intended to present a traditional argument towards gun control. This trite expectation was later proven to be inaccurate. Rather than dryly repeat old talking points, Moore devised a documentary that provided insight into the roots of violence and, more specifically, the roots and motivations of violence in America in comparison to the rest of the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Bowling For Columbine or any similar topic only for you Order Now One aspect that Moore points to is the fact the America has a unique gun culture that derives from the frontier days when guns were absolutely vital for safety. From this, a familiarity of guns was created that, for lack of a better word, made people feel â€Å"comfortable† around guns. Later, this mythos of the frontier days would be transferred into popular culture in a variety of genres: the western, the gangster film, the police drama, etc. These films were melodramatically real and drew large audience. Later, the news media would attempt to replicate the success of the films by drawing audience attention to a broadcast by reporting on violence. An ancillary effect of this, according to Moore, was that is had the psychological effect of instilling a foreboding atmosphere if fear in people’s subconscious. From this fear, there derives a paranoia that fuels both acts of violence and violent defensive measures. Moore also attempts to present an image that those suffering from poverty become victims of violence due to the susceptibility their plight leaves them. Moore underscores the need to realize the effect this violence is having on the community while seeking corrective social actions in poverty ridden areas in order to reduce instances of violence. What makes this imagery effective is the fact that it involves the audience into the documentary by giving the audience the feeling that â€Å"you† are the subject of the documentary. From this, the audience is to question its own individual role in contributing to violence in society. Concerning the individual’s role in society and the relationship to violence, there must be a clear understanding that the presentation of violence in the media is substantially more than the actual incidents of violence in society. In a famous film review, Roger Ebert said of the film DEATH WISH (1974) something to the effect of ‘yes, it is a very good film, but one needs to realize that if New York City was really as dangerous as portrayed in the film, it would have been placed under martial law a long time ago. ’ In other words, the representation of the crime in New York was overstated for dramatic purposes. The vast majority of Americans are not violent people. The number of aggravated felons in our prisons is minute when compared to the total population of the nation. However, such representations of violence – particularly racial violence – start to become a perceived reality if such images are constantly repeated. When it comes to the subject of racial identity and the culture of violence, it has been said that when there are differences among people, it becomes easier to commit acts of violence. In the notorious â€Å"Rape of Nan King† the Japanese army committed a series of unimaginable atrocities in their attempts to establish Japanese superiority over their conquered foes, the Chinese. In a twisted way, people will dehumanize the enemy based upon racial identity as an excuse to attack with extreme malice. Even during the American Civil War, rape was commonplace because as the war progressed, the enemy was no longer seen as a human being, but rather an object. While American society is not currently involved in a domestic civil war, it is a nation that has a long history of racial turmoil. Despite the incredible strides that have been made to make things right, there are still a number of negative feelings that exist among the races and ethnic groups. As presented in BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, it is clear that the media enjoys playing to these racial fears. In a world of multiple cable 24 hour cable news channels there is a great deal of competition for ratings. As a result, the news will often rely on salacious material in order to draw ratings. Since the facts surrounding a violent crime often draw curious onlookers, reports of crime will be over-reported. In realizing that there are underlying racial tensions in the nation, the media will play to the stereotype of (in Moore’s words) â€Å"white America’s fear of the black man. † While this fear mongering might draw ratings, it creates a damaging image of racial division and tension and such an atmosphere becomes a breeding ground for potential violence. Such a negative environment will continue unless people take an active role in changing the environment. This is, of course, easier said than done. In the film, Moore makes a statement to the effect that the most patriotic thing an individual has the capability to perform is to attempt to make America a better place for all those who live in it. This involves asking questions, and applying the freedom to think, and, if necessary, to dissent. That is the most American thing a person can do. On a baseline level, this is a very common sense statement. However, without action, it is also merely a statement. That is to say, if one makes a statement and does not follow up with any actual action, then it is worthless rhetoric. It is nice to listen to and it may make sense, but it becomes little more than empty words that sounds nice and makes the person saying it (or listening to it) feel good. While it would seem common sense that merely making â€Å"feel good† is without merit, far too many people will not take their notions of improvement beyond the mere statement level. If a person wants to improve the quality of life in the United States and feels that a particular issue can improve the collective good, then one must take deliberate action to make progress on the issue. Using Michael Moore as an example, he felt that there was a problem with gun violence in the United States and made a film on the subject so as to raise awareness on the issue. Now, the average person on the street does not have the means to make a film, but there are a number of ‘smaller’ activities that an individual could become active with so as to improve the collective good. This could be something as simple as writing a letter to an elected official or joining a civic organization or it could be something a little more elaborate such as maintaining a daily news blog informing the public of critical issues. There is one caveat, however, to this plan: the idea or notion that is conceived for the betterment of the American way of life must be based is reality has to have the potential to actually occur. If one is pushing for stricter gun laws that is a possibility, albeit an uphill battle. If one feels that a radical overhaul of the American government or, more ridiculously, an over-throw of the American government is the goal sought, then one is taking part is a ridiculous waste of time. While the notion of overthrowing the government may seem absurd, it has been undertaken at various points in history by radical and reactionary groups on the extreme left and the extreme right. If one decides to use the statement â€Å"The most patriotic [action to take]†¦[create] a better place for everyone who lives in†¦America is [to ask questions and dissent when the need to question government arises]† as the basis for starting a nonsensical anarchist group or a group based on racial violence and separation, then one is merely using the rhetoric of the words as the basis of moralizing negative behavior. In other words, one is taking part in extremely destructive behavior on the basis of improving the collective good. That is simply not the strategy for success nor will it improve anything. When the time needed for a positive pursuit is wasted on a futile effort or, worse, a dangerous venture, resources that could have been used for the good of society are channeled into avenues of no use. This does not benefit anyone involved and needs to be avoided. Instead, there needs to be a serious discussion and contemplation on where resources and energy should be channeled so as to actually achieve the goals one has set out to achieve. Moore’s film BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE is far more than a documentary presenting a trite argument about the need for gun control. Instead, it is a unique and thought-provoking examination into violence and its societal causes and effects. As such, the film is a stirring documentary that remains a classic of its medium. As such, the film is destined to be one viewed many times over the next several decades. Perhaps it will play a role in the future of gun control as the westerns of old did in the part. How to cite Bowling For Columbine, Papers Bowling for Columbine Free Essays What would drive two teenagers to comit such a horriffic tragedy as what happened at Columbine? In Bowling for Columbine director Michael Moore takes a look at gun violence in America and the causes behind such horriffic events that have led to Columbine. In the film Michael Moore explores the question â€Å"What makes the US have the most gun deaths than the rest of the world? † By exploring this Moore and his viewers explore a variety of reasons, The strongest point made by Moore is that largely through the media the United States is a fear based society. Moore gives examples of this when showing the news from the US compaired to Canada and video clips of behind the scenes news reports showing the true feelings of those covering the news. We will write a custom essay sample on Bowling for Columbine or any similar topic only for you Order Now At one point a reporter acts as though he is bothered by the tragic killing of a six year old girl but when the camera is off is only worried about how his hair looks. Moore shows that through the fear induced by the media many Americans are desensitized to the vasy amounts of violence and gun related crimes and turning a blind eye towards a solution to it. In the graph provided with this assignment we see that violent crimes have actually gone down year after year and yet every time we turn on the news we are assaulted with violent images and reports of gun violence. The media keeps gun deaths and violence first and foremost using the news, newspapers, magazines, talk shows, etc to keep us in a constant state of fear. In the film we see the town of Virgin Utah passed a law requiring all residents to posse firearms but why would you want more guns? Because the media induced fear that without a gun you will become the victim of someone with one if you don’t. Who benefits from this fear? Well first gun manufacturers, As we’ve seen with the massive amounts of guns purchased following the tragedies of Columbine and Sandy Hook. Second would be the media, People tuning in to the news or talk shows or even buying a printed publication to read about the latest tragedy. Third would be defense manufacturers, People buying bullet proof jackets or bullet proof backpacks for their kids or even schools buying metal detectors. And finally the government, By keeping the public fearful it makes them predictable and therefore easier to control. And why would these companies and organizations want us to remain ignorant and fearful? Because of money. If you are fearful that your neighbor might harm you or your family then your more likely to run out and purchase a gun or home security system therefore generating huge profits for those keeping us fearful. If you think another country might do us harm you are more willing to go along with spending increases for the military without any hard proof. A government report comes out about increases in crime in your area and how more police are needed and they convince you to vote for tax increases to pay for these. This leads to reinforced ideas like don’t tread on me or an eye for an eye, If someone might do me or my family harm then I need to defend them. This has a legitimizing effect because unless guns are removed or the media stops reporting mainly negative and violent news people will continue to do each other harm. Even without the media stirring up fear there will still be violence and crime but would there be such high levels of violent crime? Personally I don’t believe there would be. Did this tragedy spark a moral panic? Yes and it’s evident in almost every high school in America these days. When I was in high school you could leave the campus at any time you wanted and during lunch time many students did. These days most high schools have a closed campus so you can’t leave for lunch or at any time you choose. In some schools they have cameras everywhere as well as metal detectors and security guards. In the past if a student joked about doing something horriffic, Like shooting up the school, Most kids laughed and didn’t take it seriously but today you could be expelled for it. You could even been expelled for something ridiculous like dyeing your hair blue or folding a piece of paper into the shape of a gun and pointing it at someone. I feel that this tragedy has started some serious discussions about gun control and violence in our society but until we reign in the media and hold those accountable for the massive levels of violence in the news, movies, tv, video games, and American life in general no ground will be made. In todays society we often forget about tragedies almost as quickly as they happened because of the next latest horrible event we are fed by the media. How to cite Bowling for Columbine, Essay examples Bowling for Columbine Free Essays According to Megan McArdle, â€Å"Since 1982, there have been at least 62 mass shootings* across the country, with the killings unfolding in 30 states from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Twenty-five of these mass shootings have occurred since 2006, and seven of them took place in 2012. † Violence in schools as well as the country is on the rise at an alarming rate, raising questions about gun control. We will write a custom essay sample on Bowling for Columbine or any similar topic only for you Order Now After viewing the documentary Bowling for Columbine, I was intrigued. What follows is a summary of the documentary viewed and my thoughtful reaction. First, the shocking information and summary of school shootings and gun control must be understood. Throughout the documentary, shocking information on school shootings is shown. On April 20, 1999, the town of Littleton, Colorado was changed forever by the violent acts of two students at Columbine High School. According to the documentary, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold started their morning off by bowling at a local bowling alley. Harris and Klebold then proceeded to the high school equipped with ammunition and guns legally purchased at Kmart. Along with the firearms and ammunition, Harris and Klebold were dressed in long, black trench coats, earning them the name, â€Å"Trench Coat Mafia†. Once at the school, pipe bombs were set-off, ensuing mass chaos. Harris and Klebold then fired over 900 rounds of ammunition on students and teachers, killing 12 students and 2 teachers followed by committing suicide. After ignoring pleas, the National Rifle Society (NRA) held a pro-gun rally in Littleton, Colorado a mere Ten days after the school shooting at Columbine. Charleston Heston, NRA President, caused quite a stir when asked to leave and take his guns with saying, â€Å"you can pry them from my cold dead hands†. After Columbine, schools locked down on their students. Many schools enforced new uniform policies to ensure weapons could not be concealed in clothing or other places. Along with clothing options, the definition of weapons changed from guns and knives to paper, chicken strips, hair color, paperclips, kilts, and even finger pointing while saying ‘pow-pow’. Numerous things have been blamed for the violence that occurred at Columbine. Some of these things include music, video games, movies, race, the media, bullying, and in Littleton, Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest manufacturer of weapons and is responsible for many of the weapons used in wars. On April 20, 1999, President Clinton dropped the biggest assault on Kosovo the war had seen. Lockheed Martin built the majority of the bombs and missiles used. Columbine was not the first and sadly, not the last of school shootings and violence in America. Before the Columbine shooting, Timothy McVey, Terry Nichols, and James Nichols bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. James Nichols was the only member that was not convicted, although all of the planning and bomb construction was done on his organic farm in Decker, Michigan. Moore went to visit Nichols on his farm to interview him on his stance on gun control and the Oklahoma City Bombing. Nichols, along with Klebold and Harris, used the Anarchist Cookbook to make many of the bombs used in their acts of violence. When asked why not use words instead of violence, Nichols replied, â€Å"The pen is mightier than the sword. But you need to have a sword too if it doesn’t work†. Gun Control in America is a very controversial issue. While many states have laws against guns, Virgin, Utah mandates that all citizens must own a weapon. Every year, the United States has over 11,127 killings by guns, while German, France, Canada, U. K. , Australia, and Japan have a combined total of 973 killings per year. Many things such as divorce, poverty, violent music and video games, and a history of violent behavior in the United States have all been speculated as causes for school violence. While there have been many things blamed as a cause for violence, statistics show that murders have decreased by 20% but the media coverage has gone up by 600%. Each night, the media portrays America as a scary place full of nightmares around every corner, ensuing fear and panic in the general public. In Canada, new coverage is more positive and viewers are not being pumped full of fear daily. While the factors are the same, the rates for violence are far fewer. There is a misconception that Canadians do not own guns, but each family has an average of 7 guns per household. With less fear and violence, it is common for Canadians to keep their doors unlock, a theory tested and proved to be true by Moore. Once again tragedy struck in Flint, Michigan on February 29, 2000, when 6-year-old Dedrick Owens shot and killed his classmate, Kayla Rolland. Flint, Michigan has close to 87% of people living below the poverty line and many are enrolled in the ‘Welfare to Work’ program. The welfare program has many single parents riding a bus for over an hour one-way to a minimum wage job, often leaving children unattended, being the case with Dedrick Owens. Left unsupervised, Owens was able to access a gun and bring it to school. Many people wanted Owens tried as an adult, although he was only 6 years old. Eight months after the shooting, Heston and the NRA arrived in Flint, Michigan for the â€Å"Get Out and Vote† campaign. Heston was criticized for, once again, showing up to a town of a recent school shooting. When interviewed by Moore, Heston became very upset and stopped the interview when asked why he comes to towns to hold rallies after school shootings. Next, my thoughtful reaction to the documentary along with questions. While I found the documentary to be very interesting, I feel that it focused too much on being a smear campaign towards the NRA and showed very little on Columbine, yet the title was Bowling for Columbine. Instead of conveying the severity of the massacre, Moore downplayed the situation by calling Harris and Klebold ‘boys’. By doing this, Moore made it seem as though Harris and Klebold did not understand what they were doing as well as making them seem more innocent. In reality, Klebold and Harris â€Å"had begun thinking about a large massacre as early as April 1998 – a full year before the actual event† (Rosenberg 1). Throughout the documentary, Moore creates a lot of false impressions, many of them being with Charleston Heston. For instance, Moore splices many of Heston’s speeches to make it seem as though he is a villain. One particular quote, â€Å"From my cold dead hands† was taken from a speech done one year later in South Carolina, not at the rally held 10 days after in Denver, Colorado shown in Bowling for Columbine. Moore also makes Heston seem like a racist when in fact, Heston worked with Martin Luther King Jr. in protests and helped break Hollywood’s color barrier (hardylaw. net). Along with false impressions, I was left wondering where Moore got his statistics and information seeing as he listed no sources. According to Moore, in 2002 there were 11,127 deaths by guns in the United States when it is actually closer to 8,000 (Hardy 1). While the documentary had many things I did not agree with, there were a few that I appreciated. The film opened my eyes to the violence that goes on each day throughout the World. Gun control is a major issue that needs to be addressed, especially the issue of determining how people can obtain weapons and ammunition. At the end of the film, Moore and two survivors from Columbine get Kmart to stop selling weapons and bullets. Personally, I think this was the most honest and sincere part of the entire documentary. In conclusion, there are many things that I learned after viewing Bowling For Columbine. What followed was a summary of the documentary along with my thoughtful reactions. When asked what he would say to Harris and Klebold if he had the chance, Marylin Manson replied, â€Å"Nothing! I would listen, that’s what nobody did†. Perhaps violence in schools, as well as life, could be reduced if people just took the time to listen. Works Cited Hardy, David T. Bowling for Columbine. David T. Hardy, Apr. 2003. Web. 12 Mar 2013. http://www. hardylaw. net/Truth_About_Bowling. html McArdle, Megan. Department of Awful Statistics: Are Mass Shootings Really On the Rise? The Daily Beast, 28 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. http://www. thedailybeast. com/articles/2013/01/28/department-of-awful-statistics-are-mass-shootings-really-on-the-rise. html Rosenberg, Jennifer. Columbine Massacre. About, N. d. Web. 12 Mar. 2013 http://history1900s. about. com/od/famouscrimesscandals/a/columbine. htm How to cite Bowling for Columbine, Papers Bowling for Columbine Free Essays On April 20th, 1999 at Columbine High School, Colorado, Two students: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebald stormed the school grounds with two semi-automatic rifles and home made explosives, killing 12 students and a teacher, as well as injuring 21 others. The pair then committed suicide. This event was the inspiration for Michael Moore’s documentary Bowling For Columbine. We will write a custom essay sample on Bowling for Columbine or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this film he tackles the issue of gun control in America and why they are so different to other countries around the world. Bowling for Columbine is a documentary style film which uses a standard medium shot throughout the entirety of the film.Medium shots are used in documentaries to give the viewer a sense of realism. These shots are used to imply that the film is discussing a serious subject and the information being given by the interviewee is serious and factual as opposed to other shots which may make the viewer believe that camera has been set up and shot over a number of takes. Other than front on, there are no special camera angles used in the movie. This front on style of camera angle reinforces the seriousness of the topic and the person providing the information. The use of music in this film is a technique used to trigger an emotional response from the viewer.An example of this in Bowling for Columbine is the Happiness is a Warm Gun montage which contains stock footage of a number of murders and suicides. Another example is the use of the Louis Armstrong song, What a Wonderful World, set to another montage of American foreign policy decisions over the last fifty years. These and other songs are used, often to the point where they can be viewed as sarcastic, because the songs often cont radict what is being shown on the screen. While there are no special effects used in the movie, the music itself can be construed to a degree as an effect, nor are there any specific lighting effects.Michael Moore uses a number of techniques to influence the audience’s opinion of his topic. Moore uses statistics from numerous sources from the National Rifle Association to the American Government. These sources were used to show positive and negative sides of the topic. It can be easy enough to weigh the statistics in whichever way Moore sees fit and is sometimes used in the film to back the interviewee in a corner, giving Moore his desired answer. The style that this documentary is presented in is known as Participatory Mode. This style is a common style in documentary films and is used in all of Michael Moore’s films. It shows the presenter of the film behind and in front of the camera, where they become a part of the film itself. Michael Moore interviews many high-profile figures in the movie, Such as Charlton Heston, the then-president of the National Rifle Association and Evan McCollum, the director of communication at the Lockheed Matin plant in Columbine, as well as numerous others to find out just why America’s thoughts on gun are so different to many other countries. Showing interviews in a film, especially in documentaries, keeps the audience in the intended state of realism.It may also be used to show two different sides of an argument. In Bowling for Columbine, showing two different interviews in succession of each other often shows a dividing line between the country. Interviews are also helpful in showing many different points of view. Moore spends a lot of time making people look bad, although he interviews and meets ‘victims’ of gun violence and crime, he spends a lot more time with the people who commit the acts. His opinion and argument could come off as one sided and biased. Moore goes out of his way to make sure that he has the audience on his side for the entirety of the film.This film takes the gun control issue to another level and attempts to show some of America’s lesser points by showing you that although the American populace was aware of the severity of the situation; they weren’t willing to do something about it. In the years since the films release, a lot has changed as far as gun control and gun laws go in America. This includes K-mart ceasing the sale of ammunition at their stores nationwide and stricter gun laws in America. Although the flim may not be the exact reason for future law changes, it may very well have been the eye opener that the country needed. 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