The Cove Documentary

Improved Essays
Introduction –
Multimodal texts often represent a changing world and invites debate or discussion. This is true within the documentary, ‘The Cove’, directed by Louie Psihoyos, which initiated a discussion and debate towards the issue of whaling. ‘The Cove’ follows an activist, Ric O’ Barry, who joins forces with Psihoyos and the ‘Ocean Preservation Society’ to expose the brutal cetacean hunting methods and commercial whaling within Taiji, Japan. The crew exposed the horrific treatment and inhumane killing methods of animals by the Japanese fishermen in Taiji. The documentary showed Japan’s arrogance and selfishness through the actions of Japan’s representative in the International Whaling Commission and Japanese fishermen. The multimodal text explored how private enterprises can be exploitative and corrupt. These ideas are conveyed through the use of documentary and filmic conventions, such as, selection of shot, planned interviews, graphic or simulation, symbolic and written codes. Psihoyos encourages the viewers to reflect on their Western values towards animal rights and conservation of wildlife. Psihoyos also encourages his viewers to side within his argument against coastal whaling to establish justice and change towards the issue of coastal whaling. Human developed horrific methods of hunting and killing animals which are inhumane and unnecessary.
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Psihoyos presents this issue through the use of planned interview and raw footage. Psihoyos juxtaposed the retelling of Mindy-Rae Cruickshank’s story with the cetacean slaughter in Taiji. The use of juxtaposition between the planned interview and raw footage reinforces the message of the detrimental horrific abuse and exploitation imposed on the cetacean species. Therefore, this juxtaposition encouages the viewers to respond sympathetically to the mistreatment of dolphins. Furthermore, the director used raw footage, displaying Japanese fishermen slaughtering the dolphins within the cove. The raw footage makes his argument against coastal whaling credible and shows that the inhumane hunting methods of cetaceans are barbaric and unnecessary. Psihoyos debated that the cruel whaling methods developed by humans are cruel and unnecessary, this is shown through the use of planned interview and raw footage. The viewers are positioned to feel sympathetic and disappointed of the barbaric whaling operations developed by humans which deemed to be exploitative, abusive and unnecessary. Humans are flawed creatures; due to our selfish and egocentric behaviour. The director used selection of shots to display Japan’s arrogance towards the issue of coastal whaling and its inhumane practice. Within the documentary, there was close up shot of the Japanese representative falling asleep at the IWC. This shot shows Japan’s disinterest in justice against the mistreatment of the cetacean species. This shows Japan as arrogant, selfish, anti-humanitarian. In addition, there was a close up shot of a Japanese fisherman from the Taiji flipping his middle finger to the OPS crew. Within this shot, through the individual’s rude gesture, this shows that Japan as self-absorbed and discourteous. Psihoyos used selection of shots to display Japan as the epitome of human selfishness towards the issue of animal abuse and exploitation. Viewers are positioned to feel angry and see Japan as the ‘villain’ due to their lack of interest towards animal rights. Capitalism can be corrupt and portrays the immense power and value of money within our societies. Psihoyos used graphic simulation, symbolic and written codes to argue that

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