Becomming Death

To find a photograph to blog about I decided to just google "photograph" and pick an image that challenged me. I was about to select an old photograph of a hanging in the 40's when this image caught my eye.

I don't think one can express the sadness that this image portrays. The photo was taken in souther Sudan by photographer Kevin Carter. It is easy to understand why he took the photograph and the argument he is making. The photo successfully illustrates the dire struggle that is going on is souther Sudan (and many other parts of Africa) where there is not enough food to sustain the population.

Michael Moore & Farenheit 9-11

Documentarian Michael Moore has been a thorn in the side of whatever subject he decides is important enough to make a film about. In Fahrenheit 9-11 Moore successful states his partisan view using his time old guerrilla film tactics pared with his witty sense of humor.
Moore argues that the Bush administration is at fault, or at least knew about the terrorist attacks of 9-11. He takes his classic comedic approach to underline and connect various parts of the Bush's lives to build a plausible argument about their involvement with Saudi Arabia.
An interesting part in the documentary is when Moore uses a bunch of archival footage of both Bush Senior and Junior and their administration officials shaking hands with Saudi Leaders. During this montage the viewer is lead to believe that the has been a long standing and ongoing relationship. Moore also creative set the mood for underscoring this friendship by using the REM song Shiny Happy People, which supports a happy and jovial mood for the montage.
In all I think the film raised a lot of important questions about the Bush family and U.S. involvement with Saudi Arabia. I feel however that we as the public will never get the whole truth. I am thankful that Michael Moore is able to make his films and raise his social arguments to the masses. I also see his agenda in the process, but feel that he approaches his work in an honest way. His work is surely skewed to his perspective, but hes the one raising the question and presenting evidence to support his arguments. So though I may not agree with him 100%, I do say more power to him for standing up for what he believes in and doing what he can to get answers.

Hearts and Minds

After watching the documentary " Hearts and Minds" by Peter Davis I found myself disappointed in our involvement in the conflict. I was always aware that Vietnam was a quagmire for the United States, but have never seen anything detailing some of the specifics.
By having the documentary focus on a few main characters and their thought and perceptions of the war Davis brings the emotion of the war back to life. He carefully focuses on characters who contrast each other like the pro war POW, and then the seemingly pro war Marine who later states that the war took his life and his national pride away.
In all I think the film did a good job of establishing the atrocities of the war. Also I think it brings home the fact that we knew in order to win the war we had to win "the hearts and minds" of the Vietnamese people. The fact that the soldiers over there were trained to see them not as people but as the enemy goes a long way in showing how detached and lost we were in the struggle.