BlackFish
By: Ariana Harvey
Thesis
In he documentary Blackfish, Gabriela Cawperthwaite is successful in illustrating the way Sea World treated the Orcas and what might have caused them to change by showing sock footage and interviews.
Purpose
The purpose of this documentary was to prove that whales are tired of captivity. Captivity is like he whales are getting held hostage everyday of their lives. The film was to show us how Sea World does in-fact give out false information about how they take care of the animals and what the whales do. Sea World made it seem like they did everything they could to make the whales live in a good environment but in-fact they were the ones endangering the whales.
Technique 1: Interviews
Example 1: The interviews with the experts (former Sea World trainers) all had great things to say about the Orcas when they are alone. The whale trainers all have stories about becoming trainers and having bonds with them until they talk about captivity. The connection the story is that captivity is a different story when the whales are tired, they really lash out. They are tired of being in captivity their whole life. They want to get out and be free.
Technique 1: Interviews
Example 2: The trainers were explaining how he whales are getting tired of being in captivity. Captivity is hurting them. This is connected to the purpose because the workers wanted to make sure they explain whales don't hurt us unless, they are hurt and captivity and they way the are being treated are hurting them. They cant do anything else except to lash out and try to hurt and kill. They can't escape, so they hurt. The things Sea World does to the animals are also another reason they want to lash out. The are getting crucially and the way the whales are getting treated also add to them wanting to lash out.
Technique 1: Interviews
Example 3: The interview showed people about Dawn and explained her story. Dawn was a professional trainer in-fact they called her the best trainer at Sea World. Dawn was killed by the whale Tilikum. This is connected to the purpose because after she was killed, everyone realized that that could've happened to anyone. Tilikum is dangerous and has killed many people because he is tired of being in captivity. He was in captivity all of his life. He has also been abused by the other whales.
Blackfish Clip 3
Technique 2: Stock Footage
Example 1: They show a man getting crushed by a whale and getting dragged in the water and came out with a broken arm. The connection the purpose is that whales can do things at any time you never know when they will either. The whales are very dangerous. They are very dangerous because you can never predict what and when they are going to try to kill the trainers.
Technique 2: Stock Footage
Example 2: The footage shows Tilikum training and doing shows and towards the end of the show, Tilikum starts to disobey the trainer. The connection to the purpose is that they want the audience to know that captivity can and is really changing his behavior.
Technique 2: Stock Footage
Example 3: The footage shows a whale pulling a man down underwater by both feet. The connection to the purpose is that Tilikum's been in captivity for so long he was just trying to do anything he could to free himself. No one can really understand how I feels to be stuck in one place for so long because we are all free to do anything, and are free to come and go whenever. So no one really understands how the whales feel.
Conclusion
My overall feeling after watching this film was that it really opened my eyes to what was happening to the whales and how much that Sea World doesn't care about the whales. They just care about capturing the whales and making money from the shows featuring the whales. Sea World doesn't care about their health all they want is money. The impact it had on me as a viewer was that I think differently now about shed aquariums now, I think of reality now. Since I know what really happens, I my opinion on Sea World did a complete 180. I thought Sea World was the best place for the whales and in-fact it is the COMPLETE opposite.