George W Bush through Michael Moore’s Eyes

Posted by admin on August 6, 2010

Fahrenheit 911 is a very influential film surrounding America’s policies especially their foreign policy. The film portrays George W Bush as a confused, lazy and selfish president. Michael Moore does this through many different techniques, for example using television images of him chatting shit (I do have to say though that Mr. Moore must have someone giving him excellent hr advice given that he has SUCH a following of mindless fans). The film also follows the “Great Man Theory"that can be applied to history or current affairs. Bush is seen to be the core reason for all the trouble throughout the Middle East, he is directly blamed for the actions of the soldiers and regularly condemned for their behavior. The film explores many dubious aspects of Bush’s presidency, including the election that got him in to power. In doing this the film unfolds a lot of evidence to show the corruption of the president and his senate. However the film is also hideously biased, failing to show the full story, merely depicting the parts that make Bush appear to be a monster. Although president Bush is not the ideal man to have control over the most powerful place in the world, he is not as heartless as he is portrayed in the film.

The film gives a sense that it is telling the public the real truth. ‘the film appears to reveal the truth behind the Bush scandals portraying the rumors if the cheating that went on during the election. This then moves on to describe the way in which America was disgusted with the election, for example the lack of support from the Senate for the African-Americans objecting to Bush’s victory. It is suggested in the film that the state not the people decided who became president. This opening has a large impact on audiences, as it connotes to audiences that Fahrenheit 9/11 is very anti-Bush. However it also connotes the bias of this film, the only images used are those of the public protesting against Bush’s victory. Although there are scenes at the start of the celebrations of his victory, there is an over voice down playing the public’s satisfaction of Bush becoming president. This connotes the films bias as it fails to denote the people that did support Bush on his presidency, and the fact that people did legitimately vote for Bush.

the film also connotes the falseness of the President and those in charge of the USA. Michael Moore does this by using footage of people, including the President himself, preparing for televised interviews surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11. These scenes are made up of these orators and presenters having make up applied, them laughing and discussing how they will look on camera. This contrasted with the seriousness of the 9/11 attacks connotes the weakness and ignorance of Bush and those in power, as they appear unfazed by the catastrophic terrorist attacks. These scenes are cut in between the title sequence of the film, this also connotes to audiences the beginning of the film and Bush’s presidency. The theme of falseness is then reinforced by juxtaposition. During the title sequence satirical music is used, again connoting the falseness of the presenters and Bush. There is then a sudden cut to a blank screen teamed with the sounds of a plane crashing, the screams of people and the confusion of those trying to escape. The use of this technique also adds the idea of realism to the film, it allows audiences to feel as though they have just been involved in a plane crash.

The film itself is of a documentary style, but it is of an informal style. Michael Moore has used a satire style in order to grasp the audiences attention. This technique is used to shock audiences. For example when President Bush is shown to have said or done something to make him appear to have a lack of intelligence or of common sense, satirical music is played over the top. This satirical style also used when Bush makes certain decisions, for example his decision to bomb Afghanistan. The opening credits of a Western are played depicting President Bush and Tony Blair, there are then various shots of the President saying “We’ll smoke them out”. This connotes to audience how much of a farce Bush’s presidency and the decisions he makes are, by mocking them through the comparison to fictional film. Michael Moors also uses this satirical style to create a juxtaposition, for example the mocking of Bush’s decision to bomb Afghanistan cutting to actual scenes of Afghanistan is a great shock to audiences. These scenes are of a distressing nature, this is enhanced by the use of juxtaposition as the images become a lot more hard hitting. The use of these techniques also connotes to audiences that the President failed to fully think before he acted.

Juxtaposition is used at other times during the film for example when Christmas songs being song or listened to by soldiers are suddenly cut when US soldiers break in to an Iraqi house. They then harass and arrest some of the tenants. The use of this technique is to shock audiences. the technique also creates a sense of realism as the footage being juxtaposed is generally real life footage of combat and bombings of places Bush invaded. Juxtaposition is also used to show how Bush lied and conned the American public. For example President Bush declaring victory over Iraq, connoting to audiences that the fighting was over, being suddenly cut with images and sounds of more bombing and attacks on civilians. This emphasizes the anti-Bush feelings that the film is based on, and therefore the bias that this film portrays. the use of juxtaposition causes the film to have a greater impact on audiences. Juxtaposition is greatly used in Fahrenheit 9/11 as a shock tactic, but also to add emphasis to scenes of a serious nature. This technique allows audiences to have clearer understanding of what they are consuming. Michael Moores cleverly used this technique as it emphasizes the theme of ’truth'that runs throughout the film. The technique purposely connotes a strong negative view of the President and his actions, therefore emphasizing the bias of the film, as it fails to connote any positive view of President Bush.

Many other shock tactics are used throughout the film, for example the use of a satire style mocking George w Bush. Music is greatly used in the film to connote certain themes in the film, for example the satirical style music connotes Bush’s stupidity, the meaningful and sad music connotes the tragedy of 9/11 and those living without their lost relatives. Another example is during interviews with soldiers whilst in Iraq. They speak of the music they choose to listen to or think of when heading in to combat. These songs are then teamed with images of bombings, shootings and the citizen victims. This connotes to audiences how awful the situation is, but also portrays these soldiers in a very negative light. this supports the great man theory of the film as the soldiers actions are later blamed directly on Bush.this connotes the bias of the film as it only denotes the soldiers killing, fighting and mocking of citizens. It fails to denote the aid and help some of the soldiers provided. Shock tactics are also used to connote the lack of morals the soldiers had, for example there are cuts between soldiers abusing and killing Iraqi citizens and spokesperson for military defense stating that the soldiers had the up most precision in what they were doing and were well trained not to cause harm to citizens. This connotes to audiences the difference between ’the truth'the media depict and the ’real'truth, Michael Moore is providing.

Another successful technique Michael Moore chose to use was that of realism. This again enhances that Michael Moore is telling the actual truth, therefore causing audiences to be more influenced by the film and is content. this sense of realism comes from certain footage, for example there are various interview with the public, their views are portrayed and connote anti-Bush feelings. This causes the documentary to have a sense of realism and causes the Presidents mistakes to have more of an impact on audiences. Other uses of realism are the depiction of American stereotypes, for example the Archetypal police officer or patrol officers denoted in the film. There are also stereotypical views of class connoted during the film, for example when army officers are recruiting members of the public, they do so in a lower class area. They are shown doing this as it connotes the stereotypical view that lower class are less educated, therefore have less options in life, therefore are more likely to sign up to the army. Another stereotype that is connoted during the film is the ignorance of western societies and the ethos of the American dream. The president and his supporters suggest they are liberating the Iraqi people from the suppression they have experienced for years, it is suggested they will not live in fear or under the control of anyone but their own. This connotes the ignorance of western societies, as they believe their culture and society to be the most successful, therefore everyone should live by it. The American dream is connoted by the discussion about the freedom and equality the President and America has provided for the Iraqi people. This connotes a sense of realism due to the stereotypes used, audiences can easily relate to these stereotypes, therefore see Michael Moore’s theory as a more plausible idea.

Overall Michael Moore’s film creates a new way of looking at President Bush and the activities that have occurred since he has been in power. The President is portrayed in a very negative light and this is supported by certain amounts of evidence, however Michael Moore fails to connote the full story to audiences, therefore shows bias. Although President Bush has made many mistakes he is not as evil as is connoted during Fahrenheit 9/11. Michael Moore uses many different techniques, such as realism, juxtaposition and the use a satirical style in order to influence audiences to believe his version of the truth. The film does however brilliantly connote the way in which the medias truth is not the truth, and how the media can be controlled to control the public. Fahrenheit 9/11 is a very influential film, that uncovers some of the scandals that have occurred during Bush’s presidency, however fails to provide the whole truth to audiences.