Recently, environmental controversies are major issues. Since the environmental movement in the 1960’s, the mass media has brought this matter forth (Mass). In many countries, efforts of the media help the citizens become well aware of what is wrong and what actions can be performed. As a policy to inform the people, this leads to the communication via internet (Ahmad). Within the United States, about 5,500 animals are killed, and those alive have improper habitats (World). Through the media and internet, being at its height, foundations, companies, and the average citizen are able to voice their opinion and create changes for the better. This sense of messaging allowed animal foundations to ask for help and let many speak up about controversies, …show more content…
The documentary was released in the United States on July nineteenth of 2013, and it “centers on the 2010 death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau by Tilikum". Within months before and after the release in theaters and CNN, tensions intensified because of controversies concerning the captivity of killer whales (Gibson; Kirby). Since the move was already shown at the Sundance Film Festival that January, some were already exposed to its content. The viewers reacted by posting their thoughts online. They even began to question SeaWorld by posting those on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites that they have. The activists campaigned against SeaWorld through online petitions such as Change.org (Gibson). As stated in the Constitution, the people hold the freedom of speech, exercising this right. With all of these questions and demands for explanations, SeaWorld finally “stepped up its online game” within a few months. Despite they denied most of the accusations, labeling Blackfish a propaganda, the activists were still fighting for the end to killer whale captivity. As the target, SeaWorld drove to prove the movie wrong, and they attempted so by opening a page that states the truth about the parks (Green). This situation shows that social media gives the people a chance to speak up within a controversy. Although there …show more content…
These people supported this as SeaWorld made posts through different social media websites and commercials. On their YouTube page, they uploaded an advertisement for their website stating they do not “collect killer whales from the wild”, and they have the “highest standard of care” on the globe. It ended with what became a popular hashtag on Twitter, #AskSeaWorld (SeaWorld). SeaWorld's website openly answers the people’s questions. With such a slogan, “You ask. We answer.”, majority of those questions were about Tilikum. SeaWorld explained Tilikum’s actions did not originate from aggression and how he did not express any after the incident (You). Those who agree with their statements may also believe in the idea that most of the information online is false. This is ironic as they do not know what SeaWorld is stating is the truth. No one other than the author knows whether their words are one or the other, and this will be a continual problem. Even though this is true in many cases, this does not go against the campaigns many have made. With their voices, they were actually able to make changes. Last month, SeaWorld stated they have “plans to revamp its long-running killer whale show” and hope to focus on the natural behaviors of the killer whales. The replacement with the new program in 2017 was a shock to Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the creator of Blackfish (Smith).
California’s OSHA investigated and fined the park $375. SeaWorld responded by changing the procedures for such exercises”. In 2006 two patrons were bit by dolphins at the Dolphin Cove exhibit. A dolphin bit a boy at the petting attraction while under the supervision of a SeaWorld Employee.
In Blackfish, one of the most critically acclaimed documentaries of 2013, director Gabriela Cowperthwaite asserts that the inhumane practice of keeping killer whales in captivity is not the right thing to do. They are animals and they like to be open and free. Keeping killer whales in captivity is dangerous to the animals themselves, it makes them more aggressive, and also has the potential to harm and even kill the humans who work with them. Orcas are simply not meant for confinement. They are very calm and happy when they are in the ocean.
Joshua T. Brooks Professor Patty Chaffin English 111 8 February 2023 Blackfish Blackfish is a documentary filmed in 2013 directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. This film was produced following the lawsuit against SeaWorld where people have died while training with killer whales. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ruled that it was dangerous for humans to be in the same water as Killer Wahles in captivity because the only deaths by whales have come from them being in captivity, there have been no reported deaths by whales that live in the wild. This shows that you do not know how animals will react when you get them into the wild. Gabriela Cowperthwaite shows all of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in the film.
Blackfish: DROWING IN BIAS!!!! The 2013 expository documentary Blackfish, directed by 2-time award-winning Gabriela Cowperthwaite, sheds light on SeaWorld’s abusive orca captivity program and the death of SeaWorld trainers by orcas such as Tilikum. Intended to educate and bring awareness to a wider audience, the documentary sends a powerful message that SeaWorld’s abuse and negligence towards orcas, blinded by their profit-hungry mentality, jeopardizes orca wellbeing and trainer safety. The film utilizes various techniques and persuasive devices to influence audiences and portray its bias agent SeaWorld that they are a heartless, greedy, and corrupt company.
Wild animals such as the killer whales should not be kept in captivity because they are dangerous , breeding a dangerous whales produces more potentially danger. Tilikum is known for his killing Sealand trainer Keltie Byrne .” When she fell into the pool containing all three orcas, she was pulled to the bottom of the enclosure by Tilikum tossed around among the three orcas and ultimately drowned “.Seaworld heard that the 12,000 pound orca was on the market they quickly purchased him for its breeding program. 54 percent of Seaworld 's orcas have his genes. The fact that seaworld is breeding their most dangerous whale tilikum, it should be taken into further into account, because the more whales in captivity with his DNA the more dangerous work becomes for trainers and other that encounter these animals.
Fed Up is a documentary made in 2014 that is based on the issues caused by the American food industry. Fed Up, uncovers America’s true secrets about the food people consume every day. More specifically, it reveals the affect sugar has on people’s bodies. As a result, the amount of sugar in food, the bodies consent of glucose, and the satisfying taste it brings, too much sugar could cause certain sicknesses causing the body to not work the way it supposed to. To start off, the amount of sugar put in America’s food is predominately high.
They take things and just believe it without knowing the truth or doing any research to support the claim. Today in the United States there are approximately three different Sea Worlds located in San Diego, San Francisco, Orlando, and San Antonio. Over the past years, Sea World has begun to lose a lot of revenue and money because of drastic drops in people attending Sea World. According to Michael Calia in his article “Sea World hit by Bad Press; Stock Off 33%” this drop is mainly because of the recent media debate about the treatment of the captive Orcas in Sea World. Publicists and media stated that the treatment of these animals was very bad and they deserved to be set free into the
In conclusion Blackfish is gives audiences a shocking, aggressive and deeply compelling look into cruel practices of marine parks for decades that will change the way you look at captive/trained killer whales and other animals. In watching this documentary has significantly opened my eyes regarding the brutal treatment and methods of capturing wild animals giving me a greater sympathy for orcas in parks such as SeaWorld. This startling documentary will surprise audiences as Cowperthwaite is unrelenting in showing the fatal consequences of keeping killer whales in captivity while also critiquing of the cruel and immoral practises of
Do you remember that day that you and your family took a trip to that one park? That one that you got to see many different types of sea animals, dolphins putting on shows, and getting to even interact with the sea animals in a great learning experience. That park is SeaWorld. When you were there, you might have not noticed the stuff that was happening behind the scenes. Lately, the animals have been very sad and not living healthy lives.
Over the years there has been controversies with the way SeaWorld treat the animals and the type of behaviors animals portray as a result of its enclosures. SeaWorld's defense of capturing
Director, writer, and producer, Gabriella Cowperthwaite, in her documentary, Blackfish, describes the shameless hunting and treatment of killer whales. Cowperthwaite’s purpose is to persuade us into opening our eyes to the reality of what we are doing to killer whales by confining them in captivity. She invents an emotionally wrenching tone in order to transmit to the adult viewers that living in captivity may not be acceptable life for the whales. The film effectively showed that the whales should not be kept in captivity by giving the audience examples of their signs of aggression and displays of emotion. Cowperthwaite begins her documentary by showing how killer whales can become barbaric when held captive.
Blackfish The documentary Blackfish, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite released in July 2013, explores the mistreatment of killer whales and the relationship between the killer whales and trainers as well as the significant problems of the sea-park industry, with a focus upon SeaWorld. Cowperthwaite positions the audience to feel sympathy towards the killer whales by making deliberate choices in sound, visual, language, and structure through the representation of trainers as unprofessional, and whales as mistreated, also experts as reliable information source. Firstly, Cowperthwaite uses effective language techniques to position the audience to view the trainers as undertrained and unprofessional.
In 2013, a documentary called Blackfish was released to the public. This film was produced, written, and directed by a lady named Gabriela Cowperthwaite, as a way to show the world how poorly whales are treated and why they do not belong in captivity. Blackfish also shows how little people really know about the beautiful and highly intelligent orca whale itself. Her film was seen by many, and touched the hearts of a lot people, taking the debate of the topic to a higher level. The movie hits on a lot of main issues about captivity, told by reliable people, along with proven statistics to go along with them.
The target audience of this documentary is the general public that includes a big emphasis on the customers of SeaWorld. The filmmakers are trying to inform the public of the inhumane treatment and the conditions that the orcas face while at amusements parks such as SeaWorld. As described in the film, orcas are seen as intellectual animals that are aware of their surroundings. Because of their intellect, orcas don’t belong in a place SeaWorld and should be released.
SeaWorld should just show the orcas off, like an aquarium. In the documentary Blackfish, many of the workers talk about how the orcas can get stressed from lack of food and space, but if they change the way they were to do things with the orcas, this could help the way the orcas feel. They shouldn’t preform tricks with them and they should never get in the water with them. That way they are still making money and more money means bigger tanks and more space for the orcas. With the money they are bringing in they can also get more fish for the orcas to