| dc.description.abstract | This thesis analyzes the rhetorical strength and activist impact of the 2017 environmental documentary Chasing Coral. In this documentary, a group of filmmakers and scientists set out to document the mass bleaching of coral reefs. Not only does Chasing Coral discuss the importance of coral reefs and the correlation between bleaching and climate change, but the film also focuses on the filmmakers’ struggles in trying to communicate the issue.
The research determines what Bill Nichols defines as “rhetorical voice” of the film. Through its argumentation, the documentary attempts to persuade the viewer of the filmmaker’s perspective that coral bleaching must be addressed. Nichols’s voice is further divided into several additional theoretical concepts, of which style, arrangement and invention are discussed. The analysis tries to determine how information is shared with the viewer (style), how the central argumentation is structured (arrangement) and how the documentary attempts to persuade its viewer of the importance of the issue presented (invention).
Additionally, the analysis looks at how the documentary tries to turn its viewers into activists, both within the film itself and after the screening through the documentary’s outreach campaign. The goal of the outreach campaign is raising awareness for coral bleaching, mobilizing activists and creating long-lasting, political change. The analysis examines five areas of impact in which the documentary contributes to the discourse around coral bleaching.
This research concludes that the narrative of Chasing Coral not only revolves around sharing information about the issue, but also elaborates on the feelings, motivations and struggles of the filmmakers during the production process. Furthermore, the documentary combines different strategies in order to enhance its rhetorical strength, by simultaneously providing logical arguments by experts and allowing the viewer to create emotional connections with the filmmakers. Finally, the film’s outreach campaign offers many tools to maintain viewer interest after viewing the film. The viewer can take individual action by donating and sharing information on social media or organize a collective screening to spread the word in their community. By cooperating with activist organizations, the film has been able to assist in passing legislation in the United States, both at the state and the national level. | |
