Verbal and visual language in Bowling For Columbine

Q2 Verbal and visual language in Bowling For Columbine

Documentary film is a medium that communicates effectively through a combination of both visual and the verbal language. Bowling for Columbine by filmmaker Mike Moore uses this combination effectively to condemn the prevalence of gun crimes in America and to explore the cause of America’s “love affair with guns”. The documentary doesn’t answer all questions posed by Moore, but it certainly represents America as a very troubled society.

One of the issues raised early in the documentary is how ridiculously easy it is to obtain guns and ammunition in America. Moore uses a sequence in the exposition of the film where he finds a bank that is offering a free rifle when an account is opened. We see Moore filling out the application, receiving his gun and then we hear him ask, “Well here’s my first question, don’t you think its dangerous handing out guns in a bank?”. The combination of visual and verbal language here ...