Blackfish Rhetorical Analysis
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Edmond Santa Fe High School *
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3
Subject
Philosophy
Date
May 15, 2024
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Pages
2
Uploaded by ProfPolarBear3081
Blackfish Documentary Written Response and Argument Evaluation
Directions: Respond to each of the following questions and submit your typed response on Canvas.
Use the answers on your viewing guide to help support your responses.
Paragraph Response #1:
In 6-8 sentences, evaluate the overall documentary and its argument.
How did Blackfish present their argument? What did they do well? What did their argument lack?
What other problems, if any, were present with their argument? Include appeals and logical
fallacies in your response.
[10 points]
(Remember- whether you agree or disagree with a claim does not necessarily mean anything in regard to the
effectiveness
of an argument)
Respond here:
The documentary Blackfish argues that Orcas should not be held in captivity. It states that
the act of holding these animals in captivity causes them to become violent. They often
showed real accounts with interviews and videos that backed their argument. They also
acknowledged the counterclaim with differing opinions in the interviews shown. Their
argument lacked the first-hand account of SeaWorld although they denied an interview.
Pathos was often used in their documentary to show the emotions of Dawn's peers
surrounding her death.
Paragraph Response #2:
In 3-4 sentences, explain your views/opinions on animals in captivity
in places like SeaWorld
before
the film?
After
? Did anything in the documentary particularly play
a role in affirming or changing your opinions?
[10 points]
Respond here:
Since I have already seen this documentary I am already indifferent to animals in captivity.
Although animals can be used for education, the act of keeping animals in captivity in my
opinion is morally wrong. This can cause emotional distress and health issues for the
animals.
Paragraph Response #3:
Read the articles linked below. Summarize their points, and then
reflect on how they change or affirm your views about the film. 6-8 sentences minimum.
[10
points]
Article #1
Article #2
Respond here:
In the first article "Swim, Tilikum, Swim”, Helene O’Barry talks about the mistreatment
orcas receive and Tilikum's life. It goes into depth about Tilikum's initial capture from the
Icelandic coast to his final years in captivity after the attack of Dawn Brancheau.
In the second article “Ex-SeaWorld trainers dispute 'Blackfish,’ say phase out whale show”,
Kolten Parker says that the movie 'Blackfish’ is misleading and deceptive. In this interview
Mark Simmons, a former Seaworld trainer, says that “the movie pushes a narrow
viewpoint", and that “they completely misrepresented, provided disinformation and in
many cases lied about those events".
There are always different sides to a story and these articles prove that. Although only a
select number of people it hurt, there were still injuries related to and caused by orcas.
Their living conditions are far from similar to the wild. I do not believe that they should
shut down SeaWorld but simply prohibit breeding.
Paragraph Response #4:
Read
this article
of SeaWorld’s response to the documentary. Does it
change your opinions on the film or SeaWorld at all? Summarize and evaluate SeaWorld’s
responses to the questions in the article and state your opinions in 5-6 sentences.
[10 points]
Respond here:
In the article "'Blackfish’ film”, Vice President of Communications Fred Jacobs describes the
falsities of the documentary. He describes that SeaWorld had been painted in a false light
by 'Blackfish'. He says that SeaWorld rehabilitates hundreds of animals every year.
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