The United States is a developed nation without civil wars. It is, however, known for massive killings of people with firearms. Michael Moore, a filmmaker, explores the motive behind the killing of 12 students and a teacher in April 1999 at Columbine High School. He associates the killing with the easy availability of firearms in the nation, even as he goes on to explore other causes for the bloodshed. The murder at Columbine was carried out by two students, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. Michael documents how the United States is a country involved in the majority of firearm-related homicides in the world. To document the film, the documentary features interviews with famous people and former classmates of the slain students. Among them is Charlton Heston, former president of the National Rifle Association, who describes how easy it was to obtain a firearm and a pistol. He gives the example of a bank that freely issues a gun because he opens an account with it and deposits a certain amount of money. Others get some answers regarding gun-related violence, although they were very inadequate in explaining the trend. The film uses a great sense of humor and clips to grab the audience's attention and show how the murders were a problem to worry about. Bowling for Columbine provides perspective on violence involving firearms and investigates US gun control and lack of policies to regulate gun ownership. Michael uses rhetorical strategies, cinematic techniques, and ethics in his documentary, which aid in the film's thesis. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The plot of the film focuses on the uncontrolled possession of firearms in the United States which has led to an increase in gun homicides. The film's title originates from an incident at Columbine school in which two students killed 12 classmates and their teacher. The students had already attended a bowling lesson the morning before the incident occurred the same day. Moore uses the theme of bowling to present his documentary, in which he uses film of militiamen in Michigan using bowling pins to hit their targets during training. He interviews two former classmates and wonders whether the bowling game had any value or simply instilled fear among the students. Installed fear was one of the explanations he got for the violence involving guns in the nation. Michael ridicules and mocks various people in his interviews and in the events of the film. For example, he shows himself walking into a bank in Michigan, opening a savings account and depositing money, after which he walks out of the bank carrying a new shotgun. Jokingly, he asks a rhetorical question about the issue of the bank's distribution of weapons. He asks if they thought it was less dangerous to distribute weapons in the bank. This was ridiculous for the bank, and it uses it to prove its point about the lack of control and policies regarding firearms. Also, at the beginning of the film, he makes fun of the American president by saying that he had bombed another country whose name he couldn't even pronounce. Michael makes this statement to describe how the nation was ignorant towards violence and the use of guns. In another instance, Moore shows a clip of a boy taking guns out of his pockets. This was entirely satirical and used the clip to prove his point about how guns could be easily accessible even to children.Through the clip, he makes a rather serious point, while at the same time making it seem funny, even if the fact was worrying. A rhetorical strategy is employed in the film through the use of interviews with various famous personalities to further explore the uncontrolled use of weapons and violence. Michael uses Logos strategically in the documentary in a way that is appealing to the viewer's values and common sense. Moore travels interviewing people and asking about gun ownership and why America is the most dangerous country in the world when it comes to gun violence. It lets people know what others think, and not just by expressing their ideas. This strategy helped convey the message to the public in a tactical and more human way. An interview with communications director, McCollum, near Columbine near the Lockheed plant, Michael, tries to get his opinion on the mass murder at Columbine. Michael's musical selection in this case was very appropriate to represent a certain light. The most touching thing is the use of montage with the words “what a wonderful world”. On top of the music are flashes showing America's involvement in the war. Using Armstrong's song about a wonderful world was a way to ridicule the government and shows how exactly the opposite is true. The song is used in his interview with McCollum immediately following his statement that the missiles Moore was talking about are used to protect America from trespassers. The flashes are of people being shot and dying while foreigners are freely given American weapons to cause this. His idea was to give the public the opportunity to express their personal point of view on American weapons in an ironic way. Another interview was between him and Marilyn Manson, which is conducted after a concert in his dressing room. Manson presents his views to Michael regarding the climate of fear in America, stating that the consumption of fear in it causes violence in the state's society. The interview with him was caused by numerous social experts who linked Manson to violence in computer games, cinema and television. In his explanation, Manson uses the example of Colgate, stating that no one wants to talk to you if you have bad breath. He says this is why people point to him as responsible for the killings and bombings in Kosovo rather than the president who ordered them. Manson asks him what he could say to the Columbine students if he had the chance, to which he responds by listening to what they would say rather than telling them anything. He adds that this is what no one has done. Michael, however, counters the view of the climate of fear leading to gun violence. It does so by showcasing the attitudes prevalent in Canada. He claims that Canada had the same gun ownership as America, but the levels of violence were negligible. To illustrate this thesis, he visits Canadian neighborhoods on the US-Canada border where he finds that doors are left unlocked, demonstrating less concern given to safety and crime. The climax of the documentary is marked by Moore's visit and interview with the current National Rifle Association. President and actor Charlton Heston. She asks him about gun violence. Heston gives a lengthy response, including the suggestion that America has a history of violence compared to other countries. He attributes it to skyrocketing crime. He states that every citizen has the right to own a weapon and denies any responsibility for the violence that occurred when he left the interview. This illusion of reality is used by Moore to reflect the indifferent NRA and leaves the crowd wondering. Michael also features a Beatles song.
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