On page 107 of the text, the author states " wildlife film and television depict nature close-up, speeded-up, and set to music, with reality's most enticing moments highlighted, and its " boring" bits cute out.(Mckinney 2) These films are interesting when watched, but they are taking the nature right out of the habitat by doing so. How is this portraying nature and even more perserving it? This chapter also brings up a good point about filming nature.
The Fantasies of Natural History Film
This section explains how fantasies on film are dramatized, like any other movie, to catch the audiences attention. I think it is contradictory that film makers use artificial lighting, music, and color to enhance these called " natural habitats and behaviors." This section also explains that the mass media has made this part of film into their own project to attract viewers and display a wrongful message about nature. Documentaries are made to expand knowledge and awareness of these fading wildlife habitats, not dramatize and create entertainment for viewers. These are a few of the arguments the author made in this section.
Framing Environmental Degradation
Many natural history films do not use Environmental Degration to convey a message because they are afraid that viewers will not be subjective to the pessimistic viewpoint it brings. Another point that was made that was when films use narration, the film portrays local main stream media that is not what message should be given. Basically, nature films should be strictly nature oriented.
Visualizing Green Crusades
The jungle has many times been portrayed as a " romantic and exotic place for habitat" which is not the case when dealing with the dangerous conditions and climate that is mistaken for romance. The overall point of this chapter is that film makers are not using their own green dynamics to portray animals and their habitats in a natural way. Seeing green through a camera is probably hard to do, but I think that if everyone was aware of the situation it would be easier to handle.
Here are a few words that puzzled me:
Thanks for reading my review!!!
Posts
Hey Katie-
ReplyDeleteI like the part in your post where you talk about how the mass media makes films to attract viewers and displays a wrongful message about nature. It's unfortunate that many times the media cares more about how many viewers they have, than expanding the knowledge of the people watching. I also liked the part where you talk about how tourists and camera crew are taking away the natural aspect of the habitat. I have never thought about that! Great post, keep up the good work!
Hey Katie-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this chapter was a little difficult to follow. I really liked how you mentioned people attract viewers and display a wrongful message about nature. It's very unfortunate that what we watch may be just a scam when we're trying to learn about our environment. Great Post!
I liked what you said about producers using artificial means to enhance natural settings and animal behaviors. I completely agree with you that this is contradictory. I think it would be more effective and educational for people to just see things as they are. It's unfortunate that there is such a strong focus on attracting viewers as to make this necessary, but from the filmmaker's point of view there is little point to making the film if no one wants to watch it, I guess. This reading sort of made me lose faith in natural history films because now whenever I see one I will probably just be scrutinizing it the whole time to try and decide which parts of it are fake and which are real.
ReplyDeleteKatie:
ReplyDeleteI was really interested in the whole environmental degradation part of the reading. I know that people don't like seeing bad things happen or pessimistic views... but I almost wonder if people would take the problems with the environment and earth more seriously if they saw the actual footage of how bad things are. Maybe in the future we will be able to more equally portray the documentaries! Great Post Katie!
Katie,
ReplyDeleteNice Post! I found it hard to follow at times as well but was able to grasp the central message. I like the point you made about how film makers use different technologies to enhance the film. In nature there isn't music playing in the background or lions chasing prey in slow motion, but to us it's appealing to have for some reason. By doing this it's supposed to make it "less boring" but why sit through a movie that is not accurately portrayed that has some suspense, rather than something that is as close to honest as possible? Great questions brought up while reading your post.
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI agree the reading is a very difficult one to follow as it hit on so many different aspects of nature films and their contribution, or lack ther of, to the audience watching to educate on the natural world. We should accept Environmental Degradation as a part of our lives, and we should try and prevent it from happening. Do you have any additional resources that might shed some light on how to stop Environmental Degradation? It is a topic very close to me.
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI agree the text in this reading was a little too technical for me to comprehend easily. Dramatization is the key to TV, and without that the programs don't hit the big audiences. So what is better, have a program that is completely accurate and nobody watches or have a enhanced version that a lot of people watch that is hopefully accurate.
I totally agree with you. I really struggled to read this reading. It was written in a really awkward way for me, and I really had trouble absorbing the information. I really like quote you included about how in nature films they cut out the boring parts, speed up everything and put it to music, and highlight only the really interesting parts. That fits the profile of the nature shows that I have seen. I knew what they were doing, but I guess I never really thought about what I was missing. Another interesting point that you brought up was the amount of people in the camera crew. I also never really thought about that. I guess that kind of takes away from the experience. Camera crews bring in additional lighting, and fancy ways of editing the film, so we really don't know what truly occurs out in the wild.
ReplyDeleteHey Katie,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post and as you said it was hard for you to read I understand that too but think you did a great job! I really liked the part where you describe as quoted in the text, how we as TV and movie viewers see nature movies in a very unnatural way. I honestly have never thought about that til this chapter and your blog, I guess I didn't think about a crew or that there was music and very unnatural elements to a "nautre" movie. It was interesting to me and made me think deeper about videos and T.V. shows I watch! Great job keep it up!:)
I agree that this chapter was a little more challenging to read than the last chapter we read. I think you put in good critical thinking questions at the beginning of your post to keep us engaged and thinking outside the box.
ReplyDeleteI realize that all TV has to have some kind of dramatization to it. I guess I just never realized that channels like the National Geographic or Planet Earth also have these characteristics as well. I think you made a good point about how documentaries are supposed to expand knowledge and create awareness instead of entertainment. This reading really is going to make me analyze every kind of "nature" documentary or show I watch in the future. Great post!
Kaite,
ReplyDeleteYou're very right. Video's that are "Edited" to be the viewers eye are more interesting to watch, but how much of those videos are actually true and realistic? Something that we, as viewers and learners, won't find out by watching something that's been "tweaked". It's also very true that if viewers had more of an idea about what is actually going on in our environment, they would be more likely to know how to do their part in changing our downhill slide.
I enjoyed reading your view point, as I share similar questions as to the ones you stated in the beginning of your review. I guess the biggest thing I cant keep to stop thinking about is what the animals are thinking... Now, I am a firm believer that animals do indeed think about whats going on around them, so by humans coming in and invading their personal space and taking away their habitat, regardless of the degradation that is also occurring, but just the invasion itself I feel so bad for the animals. To do documentaries, yes they are great and in theory are necessary. But to go about it the way it has turned into for Hollywood and for viewers pleasure, I just cant help but think what the poor animals are thinking. If I were a lion, Id eat someone, even if I werent hungry, just to prove a point..IM PISSED! :)
ReplyDeleteYour post is very insightful and did a great job of summarizing what went on in this chapter. I like how you explained the "Green Crusades" I agree with you that the jungles and wilderness aren’t supposed to be romantic. I also liked the picture you put up :)
ReplyDeleteHey Katie!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your comment, "The overall point of this chapter is that film makers are not using their own green dynamics to portray animals and their habitats in a natural way." I agree with this statement because the filmakers should practice what they preach! Maybe future environmental documentary filmers should explain and describe their "environmentally safe" methods of filming during the film or on a "special features" disc. Also, I love the picture at the bottom of your post of the bug from Mexico...creepy!
Katie-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you I think that this chapter was a little more challenging to comphrend. I like how you pointed out how the media portrays even the environment in a different light that it actually is. Its almost like shows on the discovery channel or planet earth are turning into reality shows. I think that its crucial to portray such important topics such as the environment in a realistic view so that people have the right information about what is actually going on.
Katie- I really liked the quote that you picked out of the book at the beginning of your post about how film takes the nature out of the film when they use music and different lighting. I know that when I watch a film im not thinking about that, because I am more or less watching it for entertainment. I will now be more aware tho!!! Great post!:)
ReplyDeleteYou brought up some really good points in your blog about how the shows are just there to get the ratings but it is really sad that it has to come down to that. But thats Hollywood for you! I also thought that it was good that you brought up the point on how they should practice what they preach...I think we all sometimes need to work on that one!! I also really liked your picture too! Awesome blogging!!
ReplyDeleteKatie-
ReplyDeleteI LOVE LOVE LOVE how you said "how is this portraying nature, or even preserving it". That was such an insightful comment, I think I am going to quote you in my blog. HAHA
I totally agree with you that this article was written in a way that was SUPER hard to comprehend. I found myself re-reading the same sentence, or paragraph about nine times. I think you did a really good job sifting through all of the clutter that the article seemed to have and got the main points. If you didn't, then I guess I didn't either!! =)
Good job with the post--especially the vocab words. Very useful! --S
Katie,
ReplyDeleteYour not the only only who thought it was a bit difficult to gather everything from the article. I was thinking the same thing after I finished reading it. At least you got the main point from it so that's a good thing. I never really thought about whats going on behind the camera either. I don't get how the thought ever occurred to me before this. Like when the Planet Earth series was on Discovery channel, that series was absolutely amazing but now it makes me think about what they went to, to actually get that one certain scene they are aiming for. Nice work! Hopefully your feeling better that someone else besides you thought it was a jumble of a reading.
Hey Katie!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, what a sweet picture. Lions are one of my favorite animals!
Even though you said the chapter was difficult to read, you still did a great job at the post!
Before this reading, I never thought about the "behind-the-scenes" aspect of nature films. I am a huge fan of PLanet Earth and documentaries but really, they are not showing a true depiction of the issues going on with our world. Why do they have to use special colors, lighting, sound? Yes, for entertainment, but we really need to see some honest environmentally friendly films.
Although you said this reading was written in a way that was hard to comprehend, I think you did a great job!!! Really had me thinking about the issues with entertainment and out environment!
Good job!
Heya Katie! First off, great post. And great look to your blog as well. Also, can't say that I appreciate that bug from mexico at the bottom of the page. Quite possibly one of the creepiest things I've ever seen. Otherwise, couldn't agree more with ya on when they talk about portraying nature, but they're taking it out of it's environment. And Allegory seems like a made up word...i thought it was at first. But keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteVery well-written blog! I really like when you say "nature films should be strictly nature oriented." I mean, it's common sense that a film on a particular subject should be ABOUT that subject, but it seems like the media always somehow avoids doing this. I also thought this reading was a bit dry, but it seems like you got the main ideas from it, so good review! Oh, and that lion picture is AWESOME...
Hey Katie, I appreciate your honesty about reading this review. Although you said you struggled with it, you did a great job outlining the reading. I would never have imagined films that we watch involving the environment would be staged. Makes me wonder if Planet Earth is as real as they make it? Lastly, for next time I would recommend putting the definition with the key terms. Great review! =)
ReplyDeleteHey Katie!
ReplyDeleteGood work on your post! First of all I absolutely love the picture that you put up! I also wanted to say that I also had kind of a hard time understanding the article when I read it. I had to go over some things more than once.
I love watching nature shows on the discovery channel or animal planet but like you said, until I read this article I didn't really even think about all the stuff that was more than likely going on in the backround or all the boring parts that they cut out of it. It's so sad that they have to make such a production out of it to get people interested. Isn't our environment interesing enough?
I agree, this article was very difficult to read; I don't think I understood even half of it! But good job summarizing!
ReplyDeleteI never actually realized how much they take from all these documentary films; it's all new to me.
I love watching the discovery channel and animal planet but now I'd be more aware while wacthing any documentary.