Argumentation: Zoo Ethics

My film, documentary, and book all share a common aspect in their argumentation: they leave the audience with a final thought. This final thought often instills a certain emotion or opinion either agreeing or disagreeing with the creator. An argument is effective if the viewer or reader is left contemplating on the subject of the film or book. The audience does not necessarily have to agree but as long as conversation is being made, a controversial topic can go a long way.

Room, Blackfish, and Zoo Ethics also share a similar purpose. They seek to persuade the audience to feel a certain way about animal captivity. This could be lion, whale, or even human captivity; these films and books aim to expose, convince, and spark conversation. Zoo Ethics takes a more calm approach to its argument, laying out its subclaims and proving them with no force. Blackfish takes a harsher approach, exposing the secrets of SeaWorld in hopes to take them down and prove their claims. Room displays its argument in a more subtle way by telling it through a story of experience, allowing the reader to create opinions by themselves. No matter the approach Zoo Ethics or Blackfish took, I learned about the methods in which you approach an argument and the effect it has on the audience. One must analyze its intended viewer or reader and make assumptions that will best benefit the effectiveness of argumentation.