In his political documentary, “Bowling for Columbine” filmmaker Michael Moore says that fear-mongering perpetuated by American media is what supplies our endemic gun violence. Moore supports this argument by providing expert testimony of how the media attempts to make the audience fear whatever they are covering that night, citing research, citing statistics of how many guns murders that America has opposed to other major developed countries, and sharing personal anecdotes of things such as Canadians not feeling that it is obligatory to lock their doors to things like one first grader shooting another. Moore intends to lower the gun murder rate in America by showing that the problem isn’t what everybody thinks it is, rather it is the media …show more content…
In the beginning of Michael Moore’s interview with Heston, Moore establishes ethos by presenting him his NRA membership card, to this Heston says, “Good for you. Well done.” By establishing ethos with Heston it makes him believe that Moore won’t attack his belief of guns although that is all Moore intends to do. Moore continues to establish ethos with Heston as he asks about his guns, asking about his guns, then quickly asking into why he needed them? Heston responded that they made him feel comfortable and that there should be no problem because he holds the second amendment right to own a gun. Moore then continues to build ethos with Heston by acknowledging the Second Amendment saying, “I totally agree.” When analyzed these opening ideas from Moore were very strategic as before he asked Heston any hard hitting tough to answer question he established plenty of credibility by first stating his membership in the NRA and then acknowledging the Second Amendment. It is evident that Heston seems to feel that he had fallen into some sort of trap as he continued the interview, evidence of this is the change in Heston’s tone. At first Heston has a delightful, upbeat, welcoming tone, but s the interview moves along his tone shifts to being more on the defensive as he tries to defend the reasons that he owns a …show more content…
This showed pathos from Moore as he attempted to tap into Heston’s emotional side by asking if he had heard about the tragedy. Heston acknowledged that he had, Moore then asked why he scheduled an NRA rally afterwards. Moore continues to pursue pathos as he asks, “Did you feel it was being at all insensitive?” Heston then says that he “wasn’t aware” at the time they came to Flint. Moore then continues to ask Heston if he would have had the rally if he did know the killing happened, Heston continually said things like, “Hard to say,” “I don’t know, I have no idea.” After asking these questions it seemed that Heston no longer would like to talk to Moore as he extends his hand to try and wrap up the interview, but Moore continues with pathos asking, “You think you like to maybe apologize to the people in Flint for coming and doing that at that time?” Heston quizzically says, “You want me to apologize to the people in Flint?” At this time Moore utilizes pathos by then asking a follow up, “Or maybe the people in columbine for coming after their horrible tragedy? Why do you go to these places after they have these horrible tragedies?” Heston realizing that he had lost any type of power in the conversation simply states, “Well I’m afraid we don’t agree on that.” He then walks away while ignoring any