Introduction
The reality of events described in films can be prejudiced because of the great number of techniques which can make a fictional film out of the most documents-based one. The filmmaking techniques are aimed at veiling some events, facts, or concepts, and emphasizing others. As documentary films are commonly based on well-known facts that cannot be refuted for they have documented materials which affirm the reality of events depicted in the film. However, the film by Michael Moore Roger and Me can be considered rather fictional than the documentary one.
An Alternative Narrative Element
The film Roger and Me by Michael Moore describes a story where the author wears two hats, of the filmmaker and of the main character, is trying to get an interview with GM CEO Roger Smith. These attempts are not revealed in the very beginning of the film when Moore is describing his native city of Flint and the largest car-building company which is situated in that city. All the images make an alternative reality where the main character of the film was the main hero of life; the filmmaker shares his memories about the city and its inhabitants, events, and the importance of the production for the industry as a whole and for ordinary individuals.
As described in the film, the closure of the plant caused the loss of the great number of jobs; it is unfair that Moore portrayed “as a Flint native whose consciousness is shaped by the city’s industrial experiences” (Hardy & Clarke 17) tells the viewers about this tragic event for he was not even the real inhabitant of this city, “in fact, Moore was born and raised in Davison, Michigan” (Hardy & Clarke 18). It is typical of Moore to combine his personal position and the way as he sees the things around with the factual materials which make the basis for the film under discussion. The most obvious alternative narrative element that Moore takes is that he takes a realistic picture as the documentary background and inserts his view of the history and presents his story when he attempted to speak to GM CEO Roger Smith.
Roger and Me and the Society of the Spectacle
The film of Michael Moore can be analyzed with the help of the book by Guy Debord The Society of the Spectacle because the book contains a vivid explanation of alternative narrative elements used by Moore in Roger and Me. The concept of spectacle explains why the film by Moore is accepted by the audience: It is the product of the real life activity, though it is unreal or, it would be better to say, presents an alternative reality created artificially. The images are described as separate elements that can be united in an integrated stream which would form an alternative reality (Debord 12). The same thing happens to the audience that watches the film by Moore: All the elements are realistic and can be supported with documentary materials, though they all are united in an alternative reality which makes the audience believe that this reality is the only one. What effect did the author want to reach? It is possible to assume that Moore wanted to disclose the genuine feelings of the production representative, or just attempted to create another version of his biography with elements of the description of the economic situation in the country in terms of industrial changes.
The film is contradictory with regard to the theme and the way of presentation, though it is important to differentiate between the factual elements that make the video portion and the text which can be considered a pure fiction because of the attitude of the author. It is impossible to stay objective while describing the event which had influenced much both the economy of the city and the financial position of one’s family. Moreover, thousands of people had lost their jobs but this does not mean that all those people should present their own alternative reality. This film with its alternative narration can be considered “…the very heart of society’s real unreality” (Debord 13) because it is full of propaganda and advertising which make the video portion of the film. All these bright images are aimed at persuading the audience in the reality of the alternative version; the author had chosen a very soothing and calm tone in order to sound like a person that reads children a fairytale before they can fall asleep.
It is unbelievable that the audience believes him (Michael Moore) and his story; compassion and pity are evoked and the goal is reached. People are naïve and it is easy to make them believe that the earth is not round as everyone though it to be if one has enough materials even those not related to the main topic of the story. The film can be considered documentary, though the only real thing there is the video portion which makes the audience believe that everything narrated by the author is genuine truth.
Conclusion
The spectacle was made for the audience which had watched it and appreciated the reality as they were persuaded. The reality is different for all, though the genuine reality is the one which is real for all.
Works Cited
Moore, Michael, dir. “Roger and Me.” Google Videos, 2007. Web.
Debord, Guy. The society of the Spectacle. New York: Zone Books, 1995.
Hardy, David T., and Jason Clarke. “First Offense: Roger and Me.” Michael Moore Is a Big Fat Stupid White Man. New York: 10 Regan Books, 2004.