CONSTRUCTING REALITY MICHAEL MOORE’S FAHRENHEIT 9/11

GUT REACTIONS TO FILM At the beginning of the film, how does Moore present President George W. Bush? At the beginning of the film, how does Moore present President George W. Bush? What scenes during the opening credits would not appear on a regular newscast? What scenes during the opening credits would not appear on a regular newscast? What significance does Moore’s description of Bush’s “Photo Opportunity” have on the viewers’ opinion of Bush? What significance does Moore’s description of Bush’s “Photo Opportunity” have on the viewers’ opinion of Bush? Is there any other explanation for Bush’s decision to stay at the elementary school? Is there any other explanation for Bush’s decision to stay at the elementary school?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What is the film suggesting about the relationship between politics and business? What is the film suggesting about the relationship between politics and business? What is your definition of a terrorist? Is terrorism a relative term that varies depending on who is making the observation? What is your definition of a terrorist? Is terrorism a relative term that varies depending on who is making the observation? Do you think the fear of terrorism is exaggerated? Do you think the fear of terrorism is exaggerated?

MORE QUESTIONS Why did Moore read the U.S.A. Patriot Act from an Ice Cream truck? Why did Moore read the U.S.A. Patriot Act from an Ice Cream truck? When you watch the clip, what do you think of American army personnel? When you watch the clip, what do you think of American army personnel? What does Moore claim about American media reporters? What does Moore claim about American media reporters? What do you think Moore’s goal is for this film? What do you think Moore’s goal is for this film?

ELEMENTS OF A DOCUMENTARY What impact does Moore’s choice of music have on the film’s presentation of material? What impact does Moore’s choice of music have on the film’s presentation of material? Why does Moore insert other film scenes into this documentary? Why does Moore insert other film scenes into this documentary? Consider the juxtapositioning of various clips and what Moore suggests through the visuals. Consider the juxtapositioning of various clips and what Moore suggests through the visuals.

EVALUATING FAHRENHEIT The principle of the school, Gwen Tose-Rigell, believes Bush did what he was supposed to do. He was calm, collective and took steps to avoid panic. "I didn't vote for President Bush but at that time I could have," she confides. The principle of the school, Gwen Tose-Rigell, believes Bush did what he was supposed to do. He was calm, collective and took steps to avoid panic. "I didn't vote for President Bush but at that time I could have," she confides. In "Fahrenheit" Sgt. Peter Damon describes the pain he suffered as a result of the accident while touring in Iraq, but in "HYPE" he says that he was describing the pain he suffered when not on medication as a result of the accident, not the war that he still supports.

OTHER POINTS-OF-VIEW Moore paints a lovely Iraq before the U.S. invasion began. Kids flew kites in the streets, played on the merry-go-round, went for haircuts and laughed all the way home. But then, the bombs dropped. Moore would have you believe that those bombs landed on children when in fact they were hitting Saddam's bases (Scott Spicciati). Moore paints a lovely Iraq before the U.S. invasion began. Kids flew kites in the streets, played on the merry-go-round, went for haircuts and laughed all the way home. But then, the bombs dropped. Moore would have you believe that those bombs landed on children when in fact they were hitting Saddam's bases (Scott Spicciati). In Moore's film you hear Bush tell the crowd that while others call them elite he calls them his base. Dirty, huh? But "HYPE" shows the additional footage that Moore conveniently left out; footage of Al Gore in attendance, and others there to raise millions of dollars for charity. Hardly a speech to his rich constituents (Spicciati).