Rhetorical Devices And Persuasive Techniques Used In Newtown Documentary

Using rhetorical devices as persuasive techniques are really influential and are most commonly used to manipulate and influence audience. Newtown is an example of one, in which the director, Kim A. Snyder, makes an effort to intelligently highlight the issue of gun violence in the United States. In the film Newtown directed by Kim A. Snyder, the use of persuasive techniques does a pretty good job in attracting and engaging its viewers through the use of pathos and logos in the documentary. The film is part of an advocacy campaign for stricter gun laws in the United States. The movie mainly talks about the impact of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on the Newtown community especially the victim families.

The issue of the struggle to pass effective gun laws is purposely kept on the sideline of the main theme in order to avoid politicization of the film. Newtown is a story of the collective efforts of the community to rebuild itself and come out of the grief and trauma caused by shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary school that killed 26 people; 20 children and six adults. This is a grim movie focusing upon the grief, pain and resilience of the whole community rather than the violence. Even the name of the killer was never mentioned in the film. Although, the film captured the aftermath of the heart breaking incident and its emotional fallout but it also attempted to highlight the efforts to push for stricter background checks for gun buyers and for banning semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines, like those used on the victims. A group called Sandy Hook Promise, formed by some local families, launched the sad campaign. The film included the interviews of the survivors and local community members providing testimonies into the film's narrative. The Sandy Hook School Nurse, Sally Cox, described her feelings hearing the shots being fired wondering when they would stop (Newton 2016). Kim A. Snyder does a great job in terms of not really focusing directly on the topic of gun laws. If it would have discussed more about gun laws it would have been politicized, and that could have possibly caused a decrease in viewership. That is why she kept gun violence on sideline and raised pathos in viewers which causes them to think for a solution. She very effectively shows the struggle of the community and lack of effective laws to control gun violence.

One of the victim child Dylan’s older brother, Jacob, describes the date as “the day hell came to his school. ” And with testimony about the 150-plus shots fired, which along with screams were all heard over the school’s loudspeaker, that’s an accurate assessment. One cop took solace in seeing a teacher’s arm wrapped around Dylan’s body, knowing that he wasn’t completely alone (Newton 2016). Kim uses connotation and ethos in this example, she shows us the credibility of the source and how horrific it was to have been in that situation. Jacob refers to 12/14 as the day hell came to his school, which is a connotation, and Kim uses this connotation to make the viewers understand what the children went through that day and how they felt. Again this is another way to increase pathos in the film and to make the audience feel sad for the children. The main reason for all this incline in pathos is a part of their advocacy campaign. Kim uses logos, by stating facts throughout the documentary regarding issues on gun violence and mentally unstable people so she can make her argument easier.

The whole movie is quite grim and it touches the viewers’ heart. The film uses these sentiments to viewers opinion, regarding the need of effective gun laws in the country. The film, which is also part of the advocacy campaign, helps Kim to put out their the idea of gun law control and she also shows how the victim families go to the consulate and can not get their bill passed. Due to which she uses a lot of pathos, ethos and logos within the film to gain support for their advocacy campaign and to change people's mindset on gun control laws present in the society at the moment. In conclusion, Newtown is a documentary by Kim A. Snyder, which is full with rhetorical devices and persuasive techniques, only so they can get as much support for their advocacy campaign and to change the mindset regarding gun laws and background checks.