Module C essay - 'Why Weren't We Told' :)

[babolat300]

Hi all
Here is my draft essay for Module C, that I will adapt for different questions. Could you please provide some feedback, particularly on my analysis and structure, and anything I should add or remove.
Thanks!!

Textual construction serves as a platform from which composers may express their perceptions and intellectual opinions of events and situations within society, and in doing so encouraging responders to support these views, (relate to question). Reynolds, in his historical monograph Why Weren’t We Told’ (WWT), presents his opinions and views in such a manner that encourages responders to partake in the condemning of the injustice he has observed in the race relations between colonial and Indigenous Australians, and the attempts to cover-up these injustices. Similarly, Guggenheim’s adaptation of Al Gore’s presentation - ‘An inconvenient truth’ (AIT), aims to portray the truthful nature of climate change, and convey to responders the significant need for individuals and politicians to do something about it.  Both texts use selective evidence and imagery to elevate their view, as well as certain devices to condemn opposing views in order to heighten their own viewpoints. In doing so, (relate to question.)

Reynolds utilises selective evidence to encourage responders to conform to his perspective on Aboriginal injustice, (relate to question). Reynolds recounts his personal first-hand account of ‘An unforgettable incident’, in which he portrays pronounced Indigenous discrimination of Aboriginal children being locked in a prison that ‘could have been a fort or a blockhouse.’ The unjust nature of this event is manifested as he describes a man asking: “Why are they here”, and the Superintendent answering, ‘they had sworn at their teacher.’ The extreme means of locking them in a prison is juxtaposed with the misdemeanour of swearing, representing first-hand the discrimination. Furthermore, the first-hand account allows responders to witness this seemingly unbiased event and form their own perspective. Furthermore, Reynolds selectively represents views at the time, to represent his perspective on the contextual general consensus. He achieves this through recounting an article in the local paper of a man ‘convinced of inherent Aboriginal inferiority’ and observing the view that Aboriginal people were ‘quite unable to cope in competition with the white man and could never become an equal citizen of the country.’ Through this careful selection of evidence in-alignment with his own perspective, Reynold’s aims to persuade responders to adhere to his perception of these events and situations regarding people and politics. (link to question)

Likewise, Guggenheim and Al Gore utilise selective images to portray the compelling need to take action on climate change (relate to question). The opening scene portrays a picturesque landscape with a slowly panning eye level shot, along with diegetic sounds such as birds chirping, mimicking a memory. Narration such as “You look at that river gently flowing by” places the responder in the scene, while peaceful music evokes a sense of nostalgia. The narration then changes tone, with “All of a sudden, it’s a gear shift inside you. And its like taking a deep breath and going, ‘Oh yeah, I forgot about this.’” The particular issue is not named, instead labelled as ‘this’, evoking a sense of sadness at the prospect of taking away such scenery, predisposing responders to a dislike of the issue without knowing what it is, and therefore without inducing predetermined bias. This, these composers utilise selective imagery to enhance their viewpoint, (relate to question)

Reynolds employs particular structural and language devices in his condemnation of views opposing his regarding the need to reconcile with the misdeeds of the past, encouraging responders to do the same (relate to question). Reynolds presents an opposing view, that “it was necessary ‘to draw the veil over the past history of the relationship between the blackfellow and the white man.’” Directly following evidencing the foundation of the opposing views, he objects them such as these, writing “I was appalled at such reticence, which appeared to lead to a wilful avoidance of important aspects of Australian history.” Furthermore, Reynolds manipulate unreferenced quotations within his texts, enhancing their emotional impact on responders, with the intention of rationalising the reasons for his opposition of these views. He states that Blainey “believes the effect of such historical revision would be to divide the nation forever.” Thus, Reynolds employs structural and languages devices in order to denounce the views of his opposition, with the intention of influencing responders to concede to their perspective, (relate to question)

Similarly, Guggenheim and Al Gore employ mockery in their condemnation of opposing views (relate to question). Al Gore in his presentation utilises the mise-en-scene to feature himself rising on a raising platform above, to represent besides the predicted trend for temperature increase, and thus emphasising the significant effect of climate change. He follows this, mockingly stating “This seems perfectly ok.” This use of sarcasm encourages responders to come to the conclusion that the opposing views are foolish and ignorant, thus undermining them and in effect strengthening his views.  Furthermore, the presentation features a metaphorical image of a balance with gold bars on one side and the earth on the other. He satirically suggests “Here is the choice we have to make according to this group (the politicians opposing his views on climate change.) He mockingly continues: “On one side, we have gold bars. Mmmmm. Don’t the look good! On the other side of the scale we have…The entire planet!” This comedic mockery presents the opposing views as unintelligent and ignorant, thus effectively criticizing them with the intention of encouraging responders to subscribe to his views. Thus, Guggenheim and Al Gore utilise mockery in their condemnation of opposing views in order to heighten the effectiveness of their own views, and therefore (relate to question.)

Textual construction is the means by which composers may encourage upon responders a particular viewpoint of particular events and situations, (relate to question). Reynolds in WWT and Guggenheim along with Al Gore in AIT, employ selective images and evidence to forward their viewpoint to responders, along with employing particular devices to condemn opposing viewpoints in an effort to validate their own. (Relate to question.)