Climate change is arguably one of the most important issues of our time, but how do we perceive and how do we talk about it? Susanne C. Moser has identified the various difficulties that arise when trying to understand and communicate the phenomenon that is climate change.
On the basis of her paper "Communicating Climate Change – History, Challenges, Process and Future Directions" I have analysed two American environmental documentaries – Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and Leonardo DiCaprio's "The 11th Hour" – on how they each deal with aforementioned difficulties and have tried to determine which one can be regarded as 'better' or 'more successful' in terms of getting the message across.
The films shall be analyzed according to their structure, their scientific accuracy (if possible), their approach to the subject and the way in which they deal with the afore mentioned problems in a successful communication of climate change. Afterwards it shall be tried to assess whether it can be said that one of the two documentaries is more successful at 'getting the message across" and if such should be the case, reasons for this will be discussed.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The environmental documentary as a genre
- 3. Ethical considerations in speaking about the environment
- 4. The challenges of depicting and communicating climate change and resulting implications for communicators
- 5. Climate change as a topic of environmental documentaries - Two different approaches
- 5.1 An Inconvenient Truth
- 5.2 11th Hour
- 6. Comparison and Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to explain the genre of environmental documentaries and analyze their effectiveness in communicating climate change. It explores the challenges of depicting climate change and examines two case studies: Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth and Leonardo DiCaprio's 11th Hour. The analysis focuses on the documentaries' structure, scientific accuracy, approach to the subject, and communication strategies.
- The effectiveness of environmental documentaries in communicating climate change.
- Challenges in depicting and communicating climate change.
- Comparison of different approaches in environmental documentaries.
- Analysis of An Inconvenient Truth and 11th Hour.
- Assessment of the success of each documentary in conveying its message.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes the context of climate change communication, highlighting the urgency and complexity of the issue. It differentiates between natural and anthropogenic climate change, emphasizing the difficulty in conveying the abstract nature of the problem to the general public. The author posits that film, specifically environmental documentaries, offers a powerful medium for communicating climate change to a wider audience. The paper's objective is defined: to analyze the genre of environmental documentaries, identify challenges in communicating climate change, and compare the approaches of An Inconvenient Truth and 11th Hour.
2. The environmental documentary as a genre: This chapter defines the genre of environmental documentaries, acknowledging the lack of a precise definition but highlighting key commonalities identified by Rust and Monani and Willoquet-Maricondi. The chapter emphasizes the cultural embeddedness of cinema and its role in shaping perceptions of environmental issues. It discusses the potential of ecocinema to foster a shift from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism, promoting a healthier relationship between humanity and nature. The chapter contrasts environmental documentaries with environmentalist Hollywood films, highlighting the documentary's commitment to depicting reality and its suitability for promoting behavioral change.
Keywords
Climate change communication, environmental documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth, 11th Hour, ecocinema, anthropocentrism, ecocentrism, film genre analysis, communication challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Environmental Documentaries
What is the overall topic of this document?
This document is a comprehensive preview of a paper analyzing the effectiveness of environmental documentaries, specifically focusing on how they communicate climate change. It examines the genre of environmental documentaries, the challenges in depicting climate change, and compares two case studies: Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and Leonardo DiCaprio's "11th Hour."
What are the main objectives of the analyzed paper?
The paper aims to explain the genre of environmental documentaries and analyze their effectiveness in communicating climate change. It explores the challenges of depicting climate change and examines the two case studies, focusing on their structure, scientific accuracy, approach to the subject, and communication strategies. The paper assesses the success of each documentary in conveying its message.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the effectiveness of environmental documentaries in communicating climate change; the challenges in depicting and communicating climate change; a comparison of different approaches in environmental documentaries; an analysis of "An Inconvenient Truth" and "11th Hour"; and an assessment of the success of each documentary in conveying its message.
What is covered in the Introduction chapter?
The introduction establishes the context of climate change communication, highlighting its urgency and complexity. It differentiates between natural and anthropogenic climate change, emphasizing the difficulty of conveying the abstract nature of the problem to the public. It proposes that environmental documentaries are a powerful medium for communicating climate change and defines the paper's objective: to analyze the genre, identify communication challenges, and compare the approaches of the two case study documentaries.
What does the chapter on "The environmental documentary as a genre" discuss?
This chapter defines the genre of environmental documentaries, acknowledging the lack of a precise definition but highlighting key commonalities. It emphasizes the cultural embeddedness of cinema and its role in shaping perceptions of environmental issues. It discusses the potential of ecocinema to foster a shift from anthropocentrism to ecocentrism and contrasts environmental documentaries with environmentalist Hollywood films, highlighting the documentary's commitment to reality and its suitability for promoting behavioral change.
Which documentaries are analyzed in detail?
The paper analyzes Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and Leonardo DiCaprio's "11th Hour" as case studies, comparing their approaches to communicating climate change.
What are the key challenges in depicting and communicating climate change discussed in the paper?
The paper explores the challenges inherent in depicting the abstract and complex nature of climate change in a way that is accessible and impactful to a broad audience. Specific challenges related to scientific accuracy, communication strategies, and the emotional engagement of viewers are likely addressed.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Climate change communication, environmental documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth, 11th Hour, ecocinema, anthropocentrism, ecocentrism, film genre analysis, and communication challenges.
What is the structure of the document preview?
The preview includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. This provides a comprehensive overview of the paper's content and structure.
What is the intended audience for this document preview?
The intended audience is likely academics or researchers interested in environmental communication, film studies, or climate change communication. The structured format and detailed information suggest it is designed for professional academic use.
- Quote paper
- Maike Westhues (Author), 2014, Climate Change and the Environmental Documentary Film, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/340640
