Bowling for Columbine Essay

Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine"

Michael Moore uses a large number of satirical techniques in his popular documentary "Bowling for Columbine" to persuade the general American audience to become aware of the number of gun deaths and the danger of owning guns.

The film opens with Moore going to a bank to open up a bank account, and as part of an advertising campaign, the bank hands him a free gun for opening up the account. This is ironic, as Michael Moore asks the bank afterwards, "Don't you think it is a little dangerous handing out guns in a bank?"

The movie then moves onto Moore's home town of Michigan, where the Michigan Militia is busy training with their guns, aiming at bowling pins. This situation becomes ridiculous when Moore asks them what their day jobs are. They reply that they have ordinary jobs like truck drivers and real estate agents. Moore then comments that they are the ideal neighbours that people would like to have. This demonstrates use of juxtaposition. Michael Moore also focuses on a female member with a gun and a baby girl. It highlights the ridiculousness of the situation. Soon after, Moore creates a montage of American foreign policy decisions, setting it to the song "What a Wonderful World".

The film then cuts to footage from the Columbine High School massacre and interviews with the victims. He also interviews citizens living near the area, who claim that this was a great place to raise their children. Moore then focuses on the fear that erupts after the massacre, with people blaming everything from violent video games to Marilyn Manson. Afterwards, Moore displays certain shocking statistics about America's gun death history. Moore reiterates this fact with the shooting of a young girl by a primary school boy and proves to the American public how violent their children have become.

Moore later takes two