Learning from Documentaries

Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric is a phenomenal documentary. The 2017 movie presents one of the most informative and vulnerable discussions of gender identity - a social matter that has significantly emerged over the past decades.

The primary element used in the documentary is narration. Throughout the film, respected journalist Katie Couric went and talked to various people who opened up about their marginalized gender identities through their life stories. Each story represented a unique gender identity and gender expression that was often considered “problematic” against the socially constructed binary sex system, such as transgender or intersexuality. Couric did an admirable job of creating a safe, nonjudgmental atmosphere so that the interviewees felt comfortable with sharing information that unveiled so much vulnerability and privacy. Despite differences in identity, all interviewees shared the struggles they had undergone as they were navigating the path of self-discovery and social acceptance. After each story was a thorough explanation of how such a gender minority might biologically exist and how the medical community reinforced the social norm of binary sex by trying to “fix” or “reassign” gender for people like the interviewees. The level of emotions throughout the movie was high, which kept it greatly authentic and impactful. That’s what truly drew me into the movie: emotional appeals. The filmmakers succeeded in delivering appropriate emotional appeals while trying to explain a topic that was extremely difficult, sensitive, and relatively new.

That said, for my next presentation, which is a creative brief, I will try to incorporate emotional appeals to enhance the delivery of my message. I need to understand what types of emotions I need my audience to feel and how I can appropriately provoke such emotions through my presentation. Emotions are powerful. It is always wise to use them at the right time, for the right purpose.