Evaluation of effectiveness
While the documentary itself is interesting and informative, we are interested in determining how effective it is at presenting its argument and making a case. For these purposes, we evaluate the documentary in terms of the three components of the rhetorical triangle.
EthosThe film heavily relies on evidence such as autopsy reports, newspaper articles, camera footage, and the word of the former sea world trainers being interviewed. Also the film investigates many different individuals of different occupations that have been worked for or against Sea World. However there are little opposing viewpoints presented throughout the film.
|
PAthosThe emotional appeal in Blackfish is effective because of the connection it creates to the audience. All the emotions are easily universally relatable to all human beings. The film appeals to familial relations, as well as hurt and sorrow - all of which were endured by the SeaWorld trainers as well as the whales themselves. The jarring imagery of Blackfish connects with the audiences's emotions in order to show the true side of whale captivity.
|
logosBy heavily relying on the story of Tilikum for evidence and facts for various wildlife experts, the producers of Blackfish appeal strongly to the viewers' sense of logic. When an argument is presented using factual evidence and logical reasoning, it's difficult to go against - for this reason, Blackfish is effective in terms of Logos in persuading the viewers that whale captivity is detrimental to both humans and the species.
|
As all three of these components interact throughout the film, the result is a documentary that not only provides credible, concrete facts and evidence, but touches the viewers' emotions and moves them to take a stand against amusement parks' practices.
While Blackfish overall is effective in convincing its viewers that whale captivity for entertainment purposes inevitably goes awry, every argument is certain to have its own faults and flaws, as well. Blackfish, while informative and moving, may not be available or even publicized to masses of people, leaving it, and its argument, in the shadow.
Additionally, the documentary focuses almost solely on Tilikum as its source of evidence. While other evidence and data are provided in bits throughout the film, the documentary may accidentally cause the viewer to believe that the dangerous and harmful incidents may only be isolated cases. The documentary may have sent a stronger message if it emphasized more than one case in which a whale caused harm to a human.
While Blackfish overall is effective in convincing its viewers that whale captivity for entertainment purposes inevitably goes awry, every argument is certain to have its own faults and flaws, as well. Blackfish, while informative and moving, may not be available or even publicized to masses of people, leaving it, and its argument, in the shadow.
Additionally, the documentary focuses almost solely on Tilikum as its source of evidence. While other evidence and data are provided in bits throughout the film, the documentary may accidentally cause the viewer to believe that the dangerous and harmful incidents may only be isolated cases. The documentary may have sent a stronger message if it emphasized more than one case in which a whale caused harm to a human.