Documentary Analysis: Sicko, By Michael Moore

Issues are represented in visual texts through manipulation of visual and persuasive language by a director, in order to present their perspective. Sicko, by Michael Moore, is a documentary that investigates the corrupt relationship between HMOs and the United States government, and while doing so, highlights the way in which HMOs and drug companies buy politicians’ support and then use the media and their bought political power to dismantle anyone who attempts to expose or oppose them. The file footage, facts and statistics, and anecdotes employed in the documentary assist in exposing the mass corruption that runs rampant in the American government and media, positioning a viewer to see it for the bribery and selfishness that it is, and in …show more content…
The file footage first shows various clips from Hillary Clinton’s campaign for universal healthcare in America, summarising her aim: free, high-quality, unconditional healthcare for all Americans, regardless of factors such as employment statue, preexisting conditions and social status. However, it then shows us the media and congress’ reaction to Clinton’s movement. The file footage showcases how vehemently they protest Clinton’s campaign, comparing universal healthcare to socialism, providing falsified, exaggerated or outright untrue information in support of their protests; and making personal, unprofessional jabs at Clinton to lower the public’s opinion of her. The clips used in this sequence have been chosen selectively by Moore to present a positive image of Clinton while presenting a negative image of the media and politicians opposing her. In clips featuring Clinton, she is portrayed as calm, charming, presentable and passionate about her cause – these traits appeal to a viewer and reinforce the idea that she is right, and in doing so, position a viewer to agree with her. In clips featuring politicians and media, they are shown very differently. The newsreaders and politicians are loud, uncoordinated, and saying things that – without context – sound ridiculous and untrue, such as claiming that “when your momma gets sick, she might talk to a bureaucrat instead of a doctor,” and comparing socialised medicine in America to healthcare in Soviet Russia. Not only that, but during the clips featuring politicians and media, Michael Moore has played music that is typically heard in comedy skits or circus acts in the background, to further convince a viewer that their arguments (scare tactics, as labelled by Moore) are nothing more