Thursday, February 24, 2011
Analysis Paper Claim
Henry David Threau attempts to bring meaning of life through the simplicity found within his environment at Walden Pond. He does this through imagery of how chaotic sociey had become, his tone and word choice.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Response Questions to Grizzly Man
1) What do you think Herzog's purpose is in revealing Treadwell's death so early in the film? What information does he keep until much later? Why?
By dismissing Treadwell's death very early in the movie, I feel as though Herzog belittled Treadwell's death to portray the underlying reasons behind Treadwell's actions. I really think that this was the smartest way to go about making the documentary for if one waited until the end an audience would be much more likely to form stone cold opinions about Treadwell's life work and whether they feel that his intentions were valid. This is because later in the movie Herzog reveals that Treadwell changed his name and hired an agent in Las Angeles getting himself into a ton of trouble. This all questions Treadwell's intentions, while at the same time benefits the documentary for showing all the sides of Treadwell's story.
2) Herzog narrates his own film, making arguments about Treadwell’s character and motives. At one point we see his body, but not his face in the film. He uses the term "I believe." How does this affect his credibility as a film maker? Why does Herzog enter his own film as a character? What is he trying to accomplish and why?
Herzog enters his own film as a narrator to help reinforce some of the underlying themes he has detected in Treadwell's story. His arguments are made much more plausible by coming from him himself, although by using the term "I believe" he is becoming less credible as a film maker for he is telling people what his opinions are making a majority of the film seem much more biased. In doing this I feel that he was able to draw up much more controversy and really shed light on the entire story of what happened, even though he was biased. With himself in the movie I think that he also is able to create a much more emotional environment and is really able to tell that story as he wants it to be seen.
3) How does Herzog depict Timothy Treadwell as a character? What clips does he choose to show? What allowances or statements does he make in his narration? How does it compare with what his friends and family say about him?
Herzog is very tough on Timothy Treadwell often times questioning his character and credibility. Throughout the movie Herzog shows a lot of Treadwell's outtakes and reveals a majority of his personal moments in which Timothy is at some of his lowest points. Often times Timothy would be found cursing and getting very upset over insignificant things. A majority of the scenes shown in Herzog's film go against what his family and friends say about him. They always talk about how kindhearted and lovable man who was very passionate about what he was doing. His friends and family truly believed that he was making a real difference up in Alaska. However, Herzog disclaimed all of these things and seemed quite biased into his opinion of Timothy Treadwell. With all of Herzog's negative feedback of Treadwell it is clear that he believes that Treadwell's venture out into the wilderness of Alaska was all a show in order for him to gain fame.
4) What is your impression of what Treadwell was trying to accomplish by going into the Alaskan wilderness for 13 summers? Do you agree that his goal of protecting the bears was a noble one, or was he only habituating them to human presence? How do some of the images and interviews provide evidence for your point of view? What do you think was Herzog’s argument for what Treadwell ultimately accomplished? What was Herzog's purpose in making the film?
I feel that Treadwell had good intentions when he first set out on his journey in the Alaskan wilderness. Although I do give him credit for raising awareness of the troubles bears were going through, I do feel that he did more harm to them than he helped them. In getting bears more adept to human presence it is evident that the bears could be put into much more dangerous situations with people that intend to harm them. Also it could potentially harm people who where not looking to harm bears, but were in the wrong situation. Such as the classic example of bears wondering in on family picnics out in the wilderness and with bears becoming more comfortable around people they would be more inclined to walk up to these families. With that as seen in the videos Treadwell is often tested by the bears and by having people who are not prepared to handle that situation there is a fairly good chance that injury or even fatality could occur. This was reinforced by the interview Herzog did with one of the native people on the island. In this interview the Native went on to explain the respect that they had for the bear and that with that respect they left them alone for thousands of years. Herzog's argument against Treadwell was very apparent throughout the entire film and I do believe that in the end he had arranged the story in a way that it would be very easy for me to agree with his opinion in that Treadwell was not on a mission to save the bears, but rather was to become attached to something for he has become so vulnerable in the human world.
5) The Alaskan biologist states at one point that he thinks Treadwell was trying to become a bear, or be like the bears. He argues that we can't because their world is a harsh world and very different from our own. At other points, Treadwell makes a value distinction between the human world and the world of the bears, stating that he loved the animal world and hated the human one. What arguments is the film making for the boundary between humans and wild nature?
The film is showing that humans do not belong in the animal world it is far too dangerous, yet its simplicity is appealing to some. I think that Treadwell looks at the animal world with such high regards for he had never been wronged by an animal before in his life. Where as in the human world he had a rough string of events which really altered his view upon our world. Also the loyalty that Treadwell had established in the wilderness with the animals had him going backing for more for he knew that they would remain loyal to him. This is most likely accompanied by a betrayal that happened to him in the human world.
6) Herzog shows Treadwell trying to deal with death he encounters in the wild that, "doesn't fit into his sentimentalized view that everything out there was good and the universe was in balance and in harmony." Do you think there is evidence that this was Treadwell's view? Herzog goes on to say, "I believe the common denominator of the universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility, and murder." Why do you think Herzog included this statement? How does it fit into the subject of the entire movie?
Timothy's sentimental view of the universe were questioned a few times throughout the documentary. I think that the universe being in balance and in harmony was Treadwell's view for he was shown crying over animals quite often. The point at which this is most reinforced is when Treadwell encounters the dead baby fox. He begins to cry uncontrollable and can not quite recover from what he has seen. Even after he sees the dead fox he is seen with his "fox friends" much more often. I think that Herzog's opposing view on the world was reinforcing his view that Treadwell was trying to seam innocent in a world that was so unforgiving. I also think that Herzog's view on the world was reinforced quite a few times. One of the most apparent times for me was when Treadwell had died. This who situation sounded to be very chaotic and filled with hostility. Also not only was Timothy and Amy killed by the bear, but then afterwards the bear was murdered as well. Thus making Herzog's view of the world much more believable than Timothy's.
7) Why do you think they didn't release the audio recording of Timothy and Amy's death to the film audience? How did Herzog present the tape instead? What kind of emotional response did that create? How? What are the ethical implications of the choices he made in depicting the details of Timothy and Amy’s death?
In depicting the death of Timothy and Amy Herzog utilized the coroner who was dressed in uniform and standing next to a body on the table. The coroner describes their death and shows the garbage bags that their remains were delivered in. Now Herzog never released the audio recording of Timothy and Amy's death, which I think was a very smart decision for there is a fine line that one does not cross. For me this line would be the audio of one actually being eaten. There is far too much personal information and I think that if Herzog would have released the tape his credentials would have been in question for he never even met Treadwell, so who was he to release the audio of this man dieing. Instead the director is shown listening to the tape, but his face is not shown. The emotion is instead portrayed through Jewel's reactions to him. This is used to create a dramatic effect by letting the mind run wild as to how bad the situation really was. Then when Herzog began yelling at Jewel to never listen to the audio and that she was to destroy it, adding to the dramatic effect of the situation.
8) What does Timothy Treadwell's background do for your impression of his character and motives? How does Herzog depict Treadwell's parents and upbringing? Were you surprised by what you learned? Why do you think Herzog waited so long to share this part of Treadwell's story?
In learning Timothy's background was that of an average American boy I was able to relate to him much more. By being able to relate to Timothy I think I had a much lighter view of him than most for I had been in some of those same situations. It was when I had learned that Treadwell had changed his name and moved out of Los Angeles to become some sort of movie star that my view of him began to change for the worse. He was making some poor decisions and getting into some trouble with the wrong crowd of people. I think that Herzog waited to tell this part of Treadwell's story to help people determine their point of view on the work that Treadwell was doing before they began to judge him as a person.
By dismissing Treadwell's death very early in the movie, I feel as though Herzog belittled Treadwell's death to portray the underlying reasons behind Treadwell's actions. I really think that this was the smartest way to go about making the documentary for if one waited until the end an audience would be much more likely to form stone cold opinions about Treadwell's life work and whether they feel that his intentions were valid. This is because later in the movie Herzog reveals that Treadwell changed his name and hired an agent in Las Angeles getting himself into a ton of trouble. This all questions Treadwell's intentions, while at the same time benefits the documentary for showing all the sides of Treadwell's story.
2) Herzog narrates his own film, making arguments about Treadwell’s character and motives. At one point we see his body, but not his face in the film. He uses the term "I believe." How does this affect his credibility as a film maker? Why does Herzog enter his own film as a character? What is he trying to accomplish and why?
Herzog enters his own film as a narrator to help reinforce some of the underlying themes he has detected in Treadwell's story. His arguments are made much more plausible by coming from him himself, although by using the term "I believe" he is becoming less credible as a film maker for he is telling people what his opinions are making a majority of the film seem much more biased. In doing this I feel that he was able to draw up much more controversy and really shed light on the entire story of what happened, even though he was biased. With himself in the movie I think that he also is able to create a much more emotional environment and is really able to tell that story as he wants it to be seen.
3) How does Herzog depict Timothy Treadwell as a character? What clips does he choose to show? What allowances or statements does he make in his narration? How does it compare with what his friends and family say about him?
Herzog is very tough on Timothy Treadwell often times questioning his character and credibility. Throughout the movie Herzog shows a lot of Treadwell's outtakes and reveals a majority of his personal moments in which Timothy is at some of his lowest points. Often times Timothy would be found cursing and getting very upset over insignificant things. A majority of the scenes shown in Herzog's film go against what his family and friends say about him. They always talk about how kindhearted and lovable man who was very passionate about what he was doing. His friends and family truly believed that he was making a real difference up in Alaska. However, Herzog disclaimed all of these things and seemed quite biased into his opinion of Timothy Treadwell. With all of Herzog's negative feedback of Treadwell it is clear that he believes that Treadwell's venture out into the wilderness of Alaska was all a show in order for him to gain fame.
4) What is your impression of what Treadwell was trying to accomplish by going into the Alaskan wilderness for 13 summers? Do you agree that his goal of protecting the bears was a noble one, or was he only habituating them to human presence? How do some of the images and interviews provide evidence for your point of view? What do you think was Herzog’s argument for what Treadwell ultimately accomplished? What was Herzog's purpose in making the film?
I feel that Treadwell had good intentions when he first set out on his journey in the Alaskan wilderness. Although I do give him credit for raising awareness of the troubles bears were going through, I do feel that he did more harm to them than he helped them. In getting bears more adept to human presence it is evident that the bears could be put into much more dangerous situations with people that intend to harm them. Also it could potentially harm people who where not looking to harm bears, but were in the wrong situation. Such as the classic example of bears wondering in on family picnics out in the wilderness and with bears becoming more comfortable around people they would be more inclined to walk up to these families. With that as seen in the videos Treadwell is often tested by the bears and by having people who are not prepared to handle that situation there is a fairly good chance that injury or even fatality could occur. This was reinforced by the interview Herzog did with one of the native people on the island. In this interview the Native went on to explain the respect that they had for the bear and that with that respect they left them alone for thousands of years. Herzog's argument against Treadwell was very apparent throughout the entire film and I do believe that in the end he had arranged the story in a way that it would be very easy for me to agree with his opinion in that Treadwell was not on a mission to save the bears, but rather was to become attached to something for he has become so vulnerable in the human world.
5) The Alaskan biologist states at one point that he thinks Treadwell was trying to become a bear, or be like the bears. He argues that we can't because their world is a harsh world and very different from our own. At other points, Treadwell makes a value distinction between the human world and the world of the bears, stating that he loved the animal world and hated the human one. What arguments is the film making for the boundary between humans and wild nature?
The film is showing that humans do not belong in the animal world it is far too dangerous, yet its simplicity is appealing to some. I think that Treadwell looks at the animal world with such high regards for he had never been wronged by an animal before in his life. Where as in the human world he had a rough string of events which really altered his view upon our world. Also the loyalty that Treadwell had established in the wilderness with the animals had him going backing for more for he knew that they would remain loyal to him. This is most likely accompanied by a betrayal that happened to him in the human world.
6) Herzog shows Treadwell trying to deal with death he encounters in the wild that, "doesn't fit into his sentimentalized view that everything out there was good and the universe was in balance and in harmony." Do you think there is evidence that this was Treadwell's view? Herzog goes on to say, "I believe the common denominator of the universe is not harmony, but chaos, hostility, and murder." Why do you think Herzog included this statement? How does it fit into the subject of the entire movie?
Timothy's sentimental view of the universe were questioned a few times throughout the documentary. I think that the universe being in balance and in harmony was Treadwell's view for he was shown crying over animals quite often. The point at which this is most reinforced is when Treadwell encounters the dead baby fox. He begins to cry uncontrollable and can not quite recover from what he has seen. Even after he sees the dead fox he is seen with his "fox friends" much more often. I think that Herzog's opposing view on the world was reinforcing his view that Treadwell was trying to seam innocent in a world that was so unforgiving. I also think that Herzog's view on the world was reinforced quite a few times. One of the most apparent times for me was when Treadwell had died. This who situation sounded to be very chaotic and filled with hostility. Also not only was Timothy and Amy killed by the bear, but then afterwards the bear was murdered as well. Thus making Herzog's view of the world much more believable than Timothy's.
7) Why do you think they didn't release the audio recording of Timothy and Amy's death to the film audience? How did Herzog present the tape instead? What kind of emotional response did that create? How? What are the ethical implications of the choices he made in depicting the details of Timothy and Amy’s death?
In depicting the death of Timothy and Amy Herzog utilized the coroner who was dressed in uniform and standing next to a body on the table. The coroner describes their death and shows the garbage bags that their remains were delivered in. Now Herzog never released the audio recording of Timothy and Amy's death, which I think was a very smart decision for there is a fine line that one does not cross. For me this line would be the audio of one actually being eaten. There is far too much personal information and I think that if Herzog would have released the tape his credentials would have been in question for he never even met Treadwell, so who was he to release the audio of this man dieing. Instead the director is shown listening to the tape, but his face is not shown. The emotion is instead portrayed through Jewel's reactions to him. This is used to create a dramatic effect by letting the mind run wild as to how bad the situation really was. Then when Herzog began yelling at Jewel to never listen to the audio and that she was to destroy it, adding to the dramatic effect of the situation.
8) What does Timothy Treadwell's background do for your impression of his character and motives? How does Herzog depict Treadwell's parents and upbringing? Were you surprised by what you learned? Why do you think Herzog waited so long to share this part of Treadwell's story?
In learning Timothy's background was that of an average American boy I was able to relate to him much more. By being able to relate to Timothy I think I had a much lighter view of him than most for I had been in some of those same situations. It was when I had learned that Treadwell had changed his name and moved out of Los Angeles to become some sort of movie star that my view of him began to change for the worse. He was making some poor decisions and getting into some trouble with the wrong crowd of people. I think that Herzog waited to tell this part of Treadwell's story to help people determine their point of view on the work that Treadwell was doing before they began to judge him as a person.
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