Video+Analysis

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**STYLES & MODES **The documentarian chose to utilize both the expository style by incorporating direct addresses and indirect addresses, and the observational style by filming in a fly on the wall mode. In fact, we never meet our narrator and his words are sometimes only portrayed as white text showing up on the screen. The direct addresses occur through the narrator directly talking to the audience and giving further information on what is occurring outside of merely what is being said in the interviews. There are also indirect addresses that occur, that are seemingly organic interview style responses from the dad and daughter of the film, when the narrator asks the father and daughter questions about what has happened and how they are feeling with the events that are occurring in their lives at the moment of the film making.

**VISUAL TRACK** media type="file" key="Taliban Street Violence.wmv" width="182" height="182" align="right"The visual component of this text is critical to the overall effect of this documentary because there are few varietal differences in the usages of sound in this film. The documentarian uses interviews with the father and daughter to frame the story. In between the interviews, the documentarian uses frequent shots of seemingly live footage of the Swat Valley streets under attack by the Taliban. In fact, the only scenes that we felt were probably archival footage were scenes that were used to demonstrate the brutality of the Taliban treatment of the women and of Swat Valley street violence. The shots of violence in the street were seemingly unprovoked in the way that it was included in the film; one was the scene of a woman being punished in the city square.

media type="file" key="Title Page.wmv" width="185" height="185" align="right"Another time that sounds and camera shots are included, that occurs outside the action of the story, happen during the introduction of the video. There is a nature shot of a mountain and trees with a river flowing down. There are diagetic sounds included in the shot that focus on nature as well. Then the title of the film appears over the natural setting. It seems a little out of place at first, but the voice over of the narrator reveals the purpose for this shot. He states that Pakistan used to be a peaceful place that tourists used to visit, but it is now terrorized by the Taliban and war. The nature setting and sounds are used to show the setting going from a peaceful nature setting to a violent land being terrorized by the Taliban.

media type="file" key="Close up of girl.wmv" width="182" height="182" align="right"Although most shot angles appear to be natural in nature, the documentarian does use close-ups as a way to garner an emotional response from the viewers. For instance, when the daughter is asked emotional questions about her father and their situation, the camera zooms into a close up of her face to show that she is crying. Other times that the close up effects are utilized are when violence on the street leads to gruesome conclusions, such as with a woman shot in the head, a man’s face mutilated, a person being whipped publicly, and a young man dead. This is also used to aid in the horrific portrayal of the Taliban’s actions.

In this film, it does not appear that the documentarian uses any lighting effects, other than natural lighting, to create any specific effects within the viewers. There is one instance when the documentarian shows a dark mountain view when introducing the idea that the Taliban sent messages over the radio at night. It is a natural lighting choice, but the fact that the documentarian chose a dark scene before a dark message was sent out over the radio was done to state that the message, of closing down girls' schools, was a dark decision. The editing choices were also specific in nature in the fact that they are telling the story in a chronological order making the audience feel as though they are bystanders of the events as they unfold within the 48-hour period. All of these choices in visualization are made for the sole reason of adding validity to the film and making the viewer take a walk in the shoes of the family and their journey and hardships. With only using real and natural lighting, sounds, and scenes, it establishes a sense of ethos within the viewer. We want to trust the narrator because everything said by the narrator and all scenes shown seem to be the truth. Nothing hints at the documentarian over producing anything.

media type="file" key="Girl's Speech.wmv" width="226" height="250" align="right"Interestingly, the voice of the narrator was of an average American, and all dialogue was in English. This is interesting because it becomes obvious that the intended audience of the film was for Americans. In one scene, a concealed girl addresses her concerns over the plight of Swat Valley by making a plea to the audience. The address was in English, further proving that the intended audience is not the people of Pakistan, but rather their American cousin. Her address contained reasons why the attack on female education must be stopped. The scene does not seem in any way to be scripted or drafted for the documentary, but more like a coincidence that the camera was there to capture the address. However, it is interesting that an audience for this speech is never shown. This further develops the theory that the intended purpose was to lead the American audience into feeling as if they are involved in the problem and wanting to be apart of the solution. With the girls addressing their people in an American dialect, the video leaves the audience feeling that the young girls are doing all that they can to fight the rule of the Taliban on their own. This is important because the American mentality is to root for an underdog that is giving their heart and soul to win over an oppressor. The narration was completely done in the voice of God style. This was a conscientious choice done by the documentarian to remove media type="file" key="Explosion.wmv" width="238" height="243" align="right"the storyteller from the story. In fact, no questions for the narrator are ever heard by the viewer. This style allows the viewer to feel as if they have become the storyteller because they are asking their own questions and those questions always seem to be answered by the father or daughter at the right time. Similar to the narration, the documentarian only used the diagetic sounds. This again adds to the realism of the film. We never hear music. When there is gunfire in the streets, we hear it. When there is an explosion of a building, we hear the silence followed by a startled bird flying away. By removing all nondiagetic sound, the documentarian allows the viewer to hear the authentic sounds of violence that accompany the horrific actions of the Taliban.
 * AUDIO TRACK **

The text and graphics used throughout the film were mainly subtitles to state what the father and daughter are saying, feeling, and doing. All text is presented in a white font at the bottom of the screen on the natural shot of the scene. This again adds to the realism of the film. Nothing seems changed or altered to fit the director’s purpose. What were missing from certain scenes were subtitles to translate the Farsi exchanges and these omissions occurred while the Taliban reigned havoc in the city streets. By excluding a translation for the American audience of what the Taliban members are stating, the audience is alienated. The only time in which Farsi is translated for the audience occurs when we hear the terse radio transmission from the Taliban threatening violence on any girls who attend school on the following day.
 * TEXT & GRAPHICS **

Scattered throughout the film, the documentarian utilizes archival footage of the destruction of the Taliban. The segments that are included are very violent. There are segments of people murdered in the streets, such as a decapitated man whom the documentarian tells the audience is a political activist fighting against the Taliban; there are segments of buildings exploding, cannons being shot, and guns being fired. It is interesting that the documentarian chose some of these components to be shown during the critical time that one of the schoolgirls is giving a speech. During this speech, she tells the audience that they have fought and that it has not worked. She then asks the audience who will solve their problems and save them now. She states “Our dreams are shattered...we are destroyed.” This is all interesting for two reasons: The fact that this letter is written and spoken in English to her people in Swat, where the vernacular is not English, is an extremely interesting choice. It is also interesting that no audience for this speech is ever shown. The purpose of the film appears to be targeted towards Americans, above another nationality. There is no hint that this girl is calling upon anyone in her own country. Additionally, this is chosen to be included because it appeals to Americans sense of rooting for the underdog. The fact that she states that they are shattered and destroyed with images of the Taliban wreaking havoc upon them is a calling for help, particularly from the American people since she is speaking in English.
 * EDITING CONCLUSION **

<span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: left;">The United States of America is known for its patriotism and pride. Often we are portrayed as cowboys who swoop down and save the day. Interestingly, the documentarian played on U.S. citizen’s sense of pride through the words of the father and daughter. For instance, the father tells the audience that he will not leave his home in Swat Valley, that he will stay until the end out of a sense of duty, and that he will die for his cause. Then he tells the audience that to die for his cause would be a high honor if attention to the problem brings change necessary to allow girls to receive an education. While these sentiments will resonate and provoke a reaction from the American audience, the question remains as to the ethical responsibility of the documentarian. As the ultimate goal of the documentary is to raise awareness and receive an outcry of outrage for the young girl’s plight, the documentarian has an ethical obligation to appeal to the patriotic sentimentalities of the American audience. <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 160%; text-align: left;">Comments left by viewers of this video prove that opinions were swayed by the documentarian’s message. Prayers and wishes for peace in the Middle East were a common sentiment expressed by viewers. Words like "inhuman," "animals," and "uncivilized" were used to identify and classify those who are a part of the Taliban. Aside from the emotional appeals, the patriotic elements of the documentary also appealed to the audience with one viewer reciting the Thomas Payne quote, “All that is needed for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.” Others pointed out that in the United States, all children have the ability to obtain a free education, and that we tend to make a waste of the opportunities given. Finally, discussions about the merits of Islam and the Koran were rampant threads throughout the discussion of the documentary. Overall, it appears that the documentarian successfully captured, and held the attention of the American public that he sought.