The Ethos and Pathos presented by Kim and her neighbors. Did they serve as effective spokesmen for the disenfranchised, poor, and/or undereducated? How does their up-beat “this too shall pass” attitude affect the film’s message?
The presence of the camera crew is certainly felt in this movie. They get Kim and her husband back into the neighborhood two weeks after the hurricane (it’s doubtful they could have done it without the filmmaker’s car). At times it is clear that Kim is performing for the camera. It seemed to me that there are instances of our subjects getting kinder treatment than they would have if the cameras weren’t around (the visit to the high school, for instance). What do we think about the role of the documentary crew in this film?
What mode is this film presented in? I’m not certain; what do you think?
How freaking lucky were the filmmakers to have Kim just walk up and say ‘you’ve got to check this out’? (I know; this isn’t really germane to our course discussion, but seriously…)
How well do you think the filmmakers conveyed their message? What, exactly, do you think it is?
I forgot to mention that Dr. Shea would like us to explore the question of ethics at presented by this film. What ethical issues do you see in the film, or do you imagine may have presented themselves during the making of Trouble the Water?
I think this film was done in a fantastic way. Like I said in class, it wasn't too in your face political (though, yes, it was there) and i don't think it was looking for your sympathy. I think Kim, her family, and the filmmakers wanted the audience to open their eyes and see Katrina through the eyes of a victim and to show the outstanding aftermath that followed this family. The "this too shall pass" attitude captures the hopes of the film, but the obstacles that they face reflect the issues in our society, still. Racial and social issues are laden throughout the film,showing the disconnect of a country during this crisis. It was very eye-opening to see Katrina, not from a news aspect, but from a human's.
I was thinking about the mode as well when we were watching the film. I really enjoyed how the film was structured. The structure I came up with is Kim's footage of Hurricane Katrina, followed by a or a series of news reports, followed by the filming of the aftermath. After organizing my thoughts, I think there are qualities of the reflexive, participatory and autobiographical.
The reflexive mode was hard for to fully grasp, but I think there are qualities of the reflexive mode because we see them filming the documentary. At one point Kim says on the phone she is teaching Brian to become a cameraman. The story itself is Kim's story and Kim's journey, but not all the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. This is her truth, not necessarily the truth.
I definitely think this film uses the participatory and autobiographical modes. Kim's identity is established and we follow her throughout the various states and through the process of rebuilding after Katrina. The camera was the catalyst for some of the situations we witnessed Kim being in (going back to her neighborhood, Frederick Douglass High School, etc.). During the interview about the relief check, the worker asked, "Do you always have a TV crew with you"? Some of these situations would not have played out the way they did without the accompaniment of the camera/camera crew.
I think this film uses the autobiographical mode because we are scrutinizing Kim's life. We are influenced by her past, her family, her interactions with the people in her community and her reaction to adversity in the face of the aftermath of Kathrina. This mode was used effectively to personalize the political reaction (lack of reaction) to the Hurricane.
Why is Kim's story important? How does her story represent and speak for the thousands affected by Katrina?
Why do you think the filmmaker included the scene of Kim rapping her own song? What was the significance of the song, both in the characterization of Kim and within the context of documenting Katrina? What other aspects of the film helped develop Kim's character arc?
What was the significance of the scene with the woman from New Orleans Tourism? How did it contrast with the rest of the footage in the film? What did it say about class division and the social and economic priorities of the government?
Kim is a 24-year-old poor black woman who was filming on a $20 camera, yet her footage and her story was used in a professional documentary. How and/or why was Ethos established? Simply put, why do we care about what she has to say; why do we consider her an authority on the content?
I felt like Kim's story gave us a very different perspective on how the storm affected people differently and from different parts. The lady that showed us the casino's were running according to her everything was fine, but that was not the true story. I felt like Kim's story could be compared to going behind the lines of war, in how she documented the storm. Kim discusses her struggles, her and her husband both, I felt like that showed us who she was, where she came from and how she made it through.
I totally agree, Shaniqua. I liked how the filmmakers added that little bit about the casino and how the conceirge played the silly DVD and did a ridiculous dance. It was such a stark contrast to the what we just watched with Kim's story and it helped amplify Kim's journey through Katrina even more. Kim was presenting a more authentic reality and the woman's smile was febreeze masking the stench of deceit.
I really enjoyed Trouble the Water. I always try to come up with a meaning or function to the films we watch and I'm never quite sure I have a good grasp on it. But I think this film really exemplified what it is to be an American and actions speak louder than words. Nothing made me angrier than hearing the officers at the naval base turn those people away. Being such a strong supporter of our military, I was so disappointed. The director's use of cross-cutting between Kim's husband and the naval officer really showed the two perspectives and I was more inclined to believe Kim's husband.
There was something very powerful about seeing the footage of Katrina in the mist of the storm from the eyes of a victim. By contrasting this footage with news anchors who are able to run for cover, I think that the filmmaker was able to highlight how dangerous and detrimental the storm was for those who could not receive any help. I enjoyed how the filmmaker contrasted the medias reality, such as the New Orleans Tourism women, to the real reality shown in Kim's footage.
I think the filmmaker faced many ethical issues when filming this documentary. He could have helped Kim and her husband start a new life outside of New Orleans, but decided to just let naturally unfold to the best of his ability. I do agree with Wes that the probably did receive some help to go back to their neighborhood after the storm hit.
I think the message of the filmmaker was to show peoples will to survive, even when there appears to be no hope. There were many scenes where Kim talked about the lack of support when it was needed the most. Kim was a very inspirational character who literally had nothing to give, yet still gave it all.
There is a lot we can talk about in this movie:
ReplyDeleteThe Ethos and Pathos presented by Kim and her neighbors. Did they serve as effective spokesmen for the disenfranchised, poor, and/or undereducated? How does their up-beat “this too shall pass” attitude affect the film’s message?
The presence of the camera crew is certainly felt in this movie. They get Kim and her husband back into the neighborhood two weeks after the hurricane (it’s doubtful they could have done it without the filmmaker’s car). At times it is clear that Kim is performing for the camera. It seemed to me that there are instances of our subjects getting kinder treatment than they would have if the cameras weren’t around (the visit to the high school, for instance). What do we think about the role of the documentary crew in this film?
What mode is this film presented in? I’m not certain; what do you think?
How freaking lucky were the filmmakers to have Kim just walk up and say ‘you’ve got to check this out’? (I know; this isn’t really germane to our course discussion, but seriously…)
How well do you think the filmmakers conveyed their message? What, exactly, do you think it is?
I forgot to mention that Dr. Shea would like us to explore the question of ethics at presented by this film. What ethical issues do you see in the film, or do you imagine may have presented themselves during the making of Trouble the Water?
DeleteI think this film was done in a fantastic way. Like I said in class, it wasn't too in your face political (though, yes, it was there) and i don't think it was looking for your sympathy. I think Kim, her family, and the filmmakers wanted the audience to open their eyes and see Katrina through the eyes of a victim and to show the outstanding aftermath that followed this family. The "this too shall pass" attitude captures the hopes of the film, but the obstacles that they face reflect the issues in our society, still. Racial and social issues are laden throughout the film,showing the disconnect of a country during this crisis. It was very eye-opening to see Katrina, not from a news aspect, but from a human's.
DeleteI was thinking about the mode as well when we were watching the film. I really enjoyed how the film was structured. The structure I came up with is Kim's footage of Hurricane Katrina, followed by a or a series of news reports, followed by the filming of the aftermath. After organizing my thoughts, I think there are qualities of the reflexive, participatory and autobiographical.
ReplyDeleteThe reflexive mode was hard for to fully grasp, but I think there are qualities of the reflexive mode because we see them filming the documentary. At one point Kim says on the phone she is teaching Brian to become a cameraman. The story itself is Kim's story and Kim's journey, but not all the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. This is her truth, not necessarily the truth.
I definitely think this film uses the participatory and autobiographical modes. Kim's identity is established and we follow her throughout the various states and through the process of rebuilding after Katrina. The camera was the catalyst for some of the situations we witnessed Kim being in (going back to her neighborhood, Frederick Douglass High School, etc.). During the interview about the relief check, the worker asked, "Do you always have a TV crew with you"? Some of these situations would not have played out the way they did without the accompaniment of the camera/camera crew.
I think this film uses the autobiographical mode because we are scrutinizing Kim's life. We are influenced by her past, her family, her interactions with the people in her community and her reaction to adversity in the face of the aftermath of Kathrina. This mode was used effectively to personalize the political reaction (lack of reaction) to the Hurricane.
Additional questions to ponder:
ReplyDeleteWhy is Kim's story important? How does her story represent and speak for the thousands affected by Katrina?
Why do you think the filmmaker included the scene of Kim rapping her own song? What was the significance of the song, both in the characterization of Kim and within the context of documenting Katrina? What other aspects of the film helped develop Kim's character arc?
What was the significance of the scene with the woman from New Orleans Tourism? How did it contrast with the rest of the footage in the film? What did it say about class division and the social and economic priorities of the government?
Kim is a 24-year-old poor black woman who was filming on a $20 camera, yet her footage and her story was used in a professional documentary. How and/or why was Ethos established? Simply put, why do we care about what she has to say; why do we consider her an authority on the content?
I felt like Kim's story gave us a very different perspective on how the storm affected people differently and from different parts. The lady that showed us the casino's were running according to her everything was fine, but that was not the true story. I felt like Kim's story could be compared to going behind the lines of war, in how she documented the storm. Kim discusses her struggles, her and her husband both, I felt like that showed us who she was, where she came from and how she made it through.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Shaniqua. I liked how the filmmakers added that little bit about the casino and how the conceirge played the silly DVD and did a ridiculous dance. It was such a stark contrast to the what we just watched with Kim's story and it helped amplify Kim's journey through Katrina even more. Kim was presenting a more authentic reality and the woman's smile was febreeze masking the stench of deceit.
DeleteI really enjoyed Trouble the Water. I always try to come up with a meaning or function to the films we watch and I'm never quite sure I have a good grasp on it. But I think this film really exemplified what it is to be an American and actions speak louder than words. Nothing made me angrier than hearing the officers at the naval base turn those people away. Being such a strong supporter of our military, I was so disappointed. The director's use of cross-cutting between Kim's husband and the naval officer really showed the two perspectives and I was more inclined to believe Kim's husband.
There was something very powerful about seeing the footage of Katrina in the mist of the storm from the eyes of a victim. By contrasting this footage with news anchors who are able to run for cover, I think that the filmmaker was able to highlight how dangerous and detrimental the storm was for those who could not receive any help. I enjoyed how the filmmaker contrasted the medias reality, such as the New Orleans Tourism women, to the real reality shown in Kim's footage.
ReplyDeleteI think the filmmaker faced many ethical issues when filming this documentary. He could have helped Kim and her husband start a new life outside of New Orleans, but decided to just let naturally unfold to the best of his ability. I do agree with Wes that the probably did receive some help to go back to their neighborhood after the storm hit.
I think the message of the filmmaker was to show peoples will to survive, even when there appears to be no hope. There were many scenes where Kim talked about the lack of support when it was needed the most. Kim was a very inspirational character who literally had nothing to give, yet still gave it all.