For years, animal activists have tried to put an end to the captivity of
wild animals. Whether it is from bears in the zoo, elephants in the circus, or
tigers sold in the black market, animal activists have tried to stop this cruelty
to animals. It was not until recently that the fight to get one of the most
intelligent and emotion animals out of captivity erupted. That animal is the orca
whale, or better known as the “killer whale”. Recently, there has been much
controversy over orca whales in captivity due to the documentary entitled Blackfish, which originally aired on
CNN. The producer of Blackfish, Gabriela
Cowperthwaite, investigates the death of a SeaWorld trainer and digs deeper
into the lives of killer whales at SeaWorld. Blackfish debunks the myths that killer whales are happier and
safer in captivity while revealing the façade that SeaWorld has been hiding
behind for decades.
The proverb “Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it burned in one” is very fitting for the downfall of SeaWorld. The meaning behind the proverb is that it takes time to make things perfect, but it doesn’t take much time to destroy a good thing. SeaWorld, a multi-billion dollar corporation, took decades to reach the high standing position in marine parks that it held, but with the recent release of Blackfish, its empire is starting to crumble. Cowperthwaite, the producer and director of Blackfish, thought of the idea for the film when she had heard about the suspicious death of SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, in February 2010. Brancheau’s death brought up a lot of controversy and unanswered questions. Being a concerned citizen and mother who had recently taken her children to Seaworld, Cowperthwaite decided to probe deeper into this mysterious and unanswered case. Cowperthwaite tells CNN in an interview titled “Why I Made ‘Blackfish’”:
I remember fragments of the story of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau’s killing in 2010-- something about a ponytail, something about her slipping and falling, something about how this almost never ever happens because in these parks, the animals are happy and the trainers are safe. But something wasn't right. I remember asking someone why an orca -- a highly intelligent animal -- would attack its trainer or essentially “bite the hand that feeds it”.
With a collection of eye witnesses, former SeaWorld employees, and whale research experts, Cowperthwaite is able to present her recent negative attitude towards SeaWorld.
Cowperthwaite’s reason for producing the documentary was to inform the public about what goes on “behind the scenes” at SeaWorld. The more and more she learned about the problems with SeaWorld the more her documentary started to become persuasive. She wants the viewers to watch the documentary and take action. Because of the graphic material and disturbing elements of the film, Cowperthwaite most likely was aiming this video towards a mature audience. Even though Brancheau’s passing occurred in 2010, Blackfish was released in 2013, and the fight between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and SeaWorld is still going on today. Because of Blackfish many bills and laws are going through legislation to stop the capture and captivity of killer whales. The documentary walks the audience through the lives of orca whales in captivity and shows the traumatic incidents that have lead these whales to turn on their trainers. By showing the saddening footage of the hidden unethical treatment of these very large, emotional, and intelligent creatures it grabs the attention of animal lovers and the impartial alike. I specifically chose to rhetorically analyze this documentary because of its recent popularity and because it is a strong and emotional piece of rhetoric. Because I find these some of the most important pieces of evidence in this artifact, I think it’s important to discuss the ethos, logos, and pathos of the documentary.
When it comes to the ethos of the film, it takes a little digging to get to the evidence. An example of the digging that had to occur was dealing with the producer and director of the film, Cowperthwaite. By going outside of the film and researching Cowperthwaite I was able to find evidence as to why she is a credible source. She is credible because before the incident with Brancheau, the topic of killer whales in captivity had never crossed Cowperthwaite’s mind. Before producing Blackfish, she had produced multiple other documentaries and TV series, not pertaining to the captivity of orcas at SeaWorld. She states in the same interview with CNN about how prior to filming the documentary she did not consider herself a killer whale activist. This aids in her credibility because it proves she was not biased and she had no ulterior motive behind the film.
Another aspect to the ethos is the personal stories, eye witness accounts, expert evidence, and video clips. For the most part, the interview with experts seem legitimate because it is hard to fake the title of “whale research expert”. The eye witness accounts are usually reliable, and seeing as though what the eye witness accounts are simply talking about what they experienced at SeaWorld shows, it does not play an intensive role in the film. Where someone might question the credibility of the ethos is the stories and testimonies of the former SeaWorld trainers. Their statements are a little questionable because the viewers are unsure of why these trainers are considered “former”. Where they fired or did they resign because of what was happening at SeaWorld? The film does not specify why they are past employees which is a little questionable. If they were fired by SeaWorld, the animosity could have provoked them to strike back at SeaWorld. But again, it was never stated why they no longer work at SeaWorld and it is hard to assume for this situation. The ethos of the documentary has also come into question as to whether or not the information stated in the film is true because of the recent rebuttal from SeaWorld.
In a documentary that is attacking a large corporation it is fair to say that the information and appeals to logic have to be spot on. To the average person it would seem like everything that is being said in the film is logically correct. Much of the information seems fairly common sense, but since Blackfish was released SeaWorld has come up with every excuse or rebuttal possible. SeaWorld has released many statements since the film aired, whether it be by YouTube video or Twitter post or other media outlets, about the fallaciousness of Blackfish’s claims. The film states that the whales living situation is extremely subpar to the lifestyle that they would live in the ocean. It also talks about how this highly intelligent and emotional mammal does not live a happy life inside a petite sanctuary. Another fact that the film states is that killer whales do not live nearly as long in captivity as they do in the wild. These are just a few of the claims that the video makes, and everything that the video has claimed, SeaWorld has come back with a different fact to counteract it. SeaWorld claims that they make the lifestyle of their whales better than that in the ocean. They state that their whales are happy and they would not do what they do if they did not love doing it. Lastly, they say that the whales in captivity live longer than those in the ocean because they are able to get the health care that they need. There are so many sides to the story that it is hard to determine what information is right and what is wrong. Even though the appeal to logos is pretty strong it can sometimes be outshined because of the appeal to pathos that is seen all throughout the film.
Even though an outsider might assume that this film would only grab the attention of die-hard animal activists this is incorrect because of the amount of pathos it invokes. Emotions run high in this documentary due to the passionate testimonies and stories told by former trainers, witnesses, and whale research experts, which allows the film to reach a broader audience. The film starts off with many trainers talking very highly about their first experiences with SeaWorld and the animals there. Each of them talk about their high moments with SeaWorld and how wonderful it was to work there. They also mentioned how they felt like they had formed a personal bond with the animals. Their testaments are very touching and clearly show love.
The table quickly turns and all of the trainers who were just talking about how much they loved working for SeaWorld now state how they were all blinded by their own naivety about what was really happening there and because of the things the park shielded them from. The way they talk about SeaWorld now shows a real sense of frustration, anger, and bitterness which makes the audience feel upset with SeaWorld as well. Another person interviewed is a man who was a member of the crew who first went out and captured whales for SeaWorld. As he was telling the stories about taking the baby whales away from their mothers, tears were welling up in his eyes. Along with his story, the footage from the capture is playing over his talking. The footage of the mother whales crying out to their calves is heart piercing and very emotional for the viewers.
Another part in the film which strongly makes appeals to pathos is when a neurologist, who has studies killer whales talks about how the animal is very intelligent and aware of what is going on around it. She mentions that killer whales have similar brains to humans, but the whales also have a bigger part of their brain where emotions are processed. Because of this, whales are more aware of their emotions and the bonds that they make. This immediately makes the audience think about how if the whales are fully aware and conscious about what is happening to them they must be very emotional and have a lot of pent up feelings. There are many clips that are shown that make the whales look like they are sad. This technique helps to pull the audience in and make them feel for the whales. With the vast amount of footage, first-hand accounts, and saddening but true information the film is able to efficiently and successfully reel the viewers in with the amount of emotion that is displayed. Overall, this documentary is very effective when it comes to appealing to the viewer’s pathos.
Ultimately, Blackfish is the reason for the sudden demise of SeaWorld, and to think that it all started because of curiosity. The ethos of the film is backed up by hard evidence given by whale researchers and experts. Because SeaWorld has a very different argument it is hard to tell which side’s ethos or logos fail. The facts are presented to the viewers in an organized and tidy manner, but sometimes the facts are overpowered because of the pathos within the film. Many emotional testimonies and clips are shown to pull the audience in and make them feel for the whales. As someone who has been to SeaWorld, watched Blackfish, and has researched the issues and arguments between the two, I am still confused as to what I should believe in. Both the documentary, Blackfish, and SeaWorld have factual and consistent evidence, but it is hard to know who to trust. Each side claims that their beliefs and facts are better than the other and it seems as though the controversy is simply just black or white- just like the colors of the killer whale. Either you agree with SeaWorld or you agree with the movie. No matter who wins the battle of the killer whales it is for sure the whales who will lose in the end.
Works Cited
Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. 2013. CNN Films. DVD.
Cowperthwaite, Gabriela. "Why I Made 'Blackfish.'" CNN. Cable News Network, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 15 May 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/23/opinion/blackfish-filmmaker-statement/>.
The proverb “Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it burned in one” is very fitting for the downfall of SeaWorld. The meaning behind the proverb is that it takes time to make things perfect, but it doesn’t take much time to destroy a good thing. SeaWorld, a multi-billion dollar corporation, took decades to reach the high standing position in marine parks that it held, but with the recent release of Blackfish, its empire is starting to crumble. Cowperthwaite, the producer and director of Blackfish, thought of the idea for the film when she had heard about the suspicious death of SeaWorld trainer, Dawn Brancheau, in February 2010. Brancheau’s death brought up a lot of controversy and unanswered questions. Being a concerned citizen and mother who had recently taken her children to Seaworld, Cowperthwaite decided to probe deeper into this mysterious and unanswered case. Cowperthwaite tells CNN in an interview titled “Why I Made ‘Blackfish’”:
I remember fragments of the story of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau’s killing in 2010-- something about a ponytail, something about her slipping and falling, something about how this almost never ever happens because in these parks, the animals are happy and the trainers are safe. But something wasn't right. I remember asking someone why an orca -- a highly intelligent animal -- would attack its trainer or essentially “bite the hand that feeds it”.
With a collection of eye witnesses, former SeaWorld employees, and whale research experts, Cowperthwaite is able to present her recent negative attitude towards SeaWorld.
Cowperthwaite’s reason for producing the documentary was to inform the public about what goes on “behind the scenes” at SeaWorld. The more and more she learned about the problems with SeaWorld the more her documentary started to become persuasive. She wants the viewers to watch the documentary and take action. Because of the graphic material and disturbing elements of the film, Cowperthwaite most likely was aiming this video towards a mature audience. Even though Brancheau’s passing occurred in 2010, Blackfish was released in 2013, and the fight between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and SeaWorld is still going on today. Because of Blackfish many bills and laws are going through legislation to stop the capture and captivity of killer whales. The documentary walks the audience through the lives of orca whales in captivity and shows the traumatic incidents that have lead these whales to turn on their trainers. By showing the saddening footage of the hidden unethical treatment of these very large, emotional, and intelligent creatures it grabs the attention of animal lovers and the impartial alike. I specifically chose to rhetorically analyze this documentary because of its recent popularity and because it is a strong and emotional piece of rhetoric. Because I find these some of the most important pieces of evidence in this artifact, I think it’s important to discuss the ethos, logos, and pathos of the documentary.
When it comes to the ethos of the film, it takes a little digging to get to the evidence. An example of the digging that had to occur was dealing with the producer and director of the film, Cowperthwaite. By going outside of the film and researching Cowperthwaite I was able to find evidence as to why she is a credible source. She is credible because before the incident with Brancheau, the topic of killer whales in captivity had never crossed Cowperthwaite’s mind. Before producing Blackfish, she had produced multiple other documentaries and TV series, not pertaining to the captivity of orcas at SeaWorld. She states in the same interview with CNN about how prior to filming the documentary she did not consider herself a killer whale activist. This aids in her credibility because it proves she was not biased and she had no ulterior motive behind the film.
Another aspect to the ethos is the personal stories, eye witness accounts, expert evidence, and video clips. For the most part, the interview with experts seem legitimate because it is hard to fake the title of “whale research expert”. The eye witness accounts are usually reliable, and seeing as though what the eye witness accounts are simply talking about what they experienced at SeaWorld shows, it does not play an intensive role in the film. Where someone might question the credibility of the ethos is the stories and testimonies of the former SeaWorld trainers. Their statements are a little questionable because the viewers are unsure of why these trainers are considered “former”. Where they fired or did they resign because of what was happening at SeaWorld? The film does not specify why they are past employees which is a little questionable. If they were fired by SeaWorld, the animosity could have provoked them to strike back at SeaWorld. But again, it was never stated why they no longer work at SeaWorld and it is hard to assume for this situation. The ethos of the documentary has also come into question as to whether or not the information stated in the film is true because of the recent rebuttal from SeaWorld.
In a documentary that is attacking a large corporation it is fair to say that the information and appeals to logic have to be spot on. To the average person it would seem like everything that is being said in the film is logically correct. Much of the information seems fairly common sense, but since Blackfish was released SeaWorld has come up with every excuse or rebuttal possible. SeaWorld has released many statements since the film aired, whether it be by YouTube video or Twitter post or other media outlets, about the fallaciousness of Blackfish’s claims. The film states that the whales living situation is extremely subpar to the lifestyle that they would live in the ocean. It also talks about how this highly intelligent and emotional mammal does not live a happy life inside a petite sanctuary. Another fact that the film states is that killer whales do not live nearly as long in captivity as they do in the wild. These are just a few of the claims that the video makes, and everything that the video has claimed, SeaWorld has come back with a different fact to counteract it. SeaWorld claims that they make the lifestyle of their whales better than that in the ocean. They state that their whales are happy and they would not do what they do if they did not love doing it. Lastly, they say that the whales in captivity live longer than those in the ocean because they are able to get the health care that they need. There are so many sides to the story that it is hard to determine what information is right and what is wrong. Even though the appeal to logos is pretty strong it can sometimes be outshined because of the appeal to pathos that is seen all throughout the film.
Even though an outsider might assume that this film would only grab the attention of die-hard animal activists this is incorrect because of the amount of pathos it invokes. Emotions run high in this documentary due to the passionate testimonies and stories told by former trainers, witnesses, and whale research experts, which allows the film to reach a broader audience. The film starts off with many trainers talking very highly about their first experiences with SeaWorld and the animals there. Each of them talk about their high moments with SeaWorld and how wonderful it was to work there. They also mentioned how they felt like they had formed a personal bond with the animals. Their testaments are very touching and clearly show love.
The table quickly turns and all of the trainers who were just talking about how much they loved working for SeaWorld now state how they were all blinded by their own naivety about what was really happening there and because of the things the park shielded them from. The way they talk about SeaWorld now shows a real sense of frustration, anger, and bitterness which makes the audience feel upset with SeaWorld as well. Another person interviewed is a man who was a member of the crew who first went out and captured whales for SeaWorld. As he was telling the stories about taking the baby whales away from their mothers, tears were welling up in his eyes. Along with his story, the footage from the capture is playing over his talking. The footage of the mother whales crying out to their calves is heart piercing and very emotional for the viewers.
Another part in the film which strongly makes appeals to pathos is when a neurologist, who has studies killer whales talks about how the animal is very intelligent and aware of what is going on around it. She mentions that killer whales have similar brains to humans, but the whales also have a bigger part of their brain where emotions are processed. Because of this, whales are more aware of their emotions and the bonds that they make. This immediately makes the audience think about how if the whales are fully aware and conscious about what is happening to them they must be very emotional and have a lot of pent up feelings. There are many clips that are shown that make the whales look like they are sad. This technique helps to pull the audience in and make them feel for the whales. With the vast amount of footage, first-hand accounts, and saddening but true information the film is able to efficiently and successfully reel the viewers in with the amount of emotion that is displayed. Overall, this documentary is very effective when it comes to appealing to the viewer’s pathos.
Ultimately, Blackfish is the reason for the sudden demise of SeaWorld, and to think that it all started because of curiosity. The ethos of the film is backed up by hard evidence given by whale researchers and experts. Because SeaWorld has a very different argument it is hard to tell which side’s ethos or logos fail. The facts are presented to the viewers in an organized and tidy manner, but sometimes the facts are overpowered because of the pathos within the film. Many emotional testimonies and clips are shown to pull the audience in and make them feel for the whales. As someone who has been to SeaWorld, watched Blackfish, and has researched the issues and arguments between the two, I am still confused as to what I should believe in. Both the documentary, Blackfish, and SeaWorld have factual and consistent evidence, but it is hard to know who to trust. Each side claims that their beliefs and facts are better than the other and it seems as though the controversy is simply just black or white- just like the colors of the killer whale. Either you agree with SeaWorld or you agree with the movie. No matter who wins the battle of the killer whales it is for sure the whales who will lose in the end.
Works Cited
Blackfish. Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite. 2013. CNN Films. DVD.
Cowperthwaite, Gabriela. "Why I Made 'Blackfish.'" CNN. Cable News Network, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 15 May 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/23/opinion/blackfish-filmmaker-statement/>.