Confronted Assumptions and Altered Opinions of Loose Change

The controversial documentary film Loose Change attacks the ideal of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, focusing on the concept surrounding the united state government’s potential role in the “terrorist” attacks. First of all, the documentary confronts the American citizens’ assumption that the attacks on September eleventh were solely a result of brutal terrorism. Also, this documentary tries in great detail to alter the American citizens’ opinions of their government. Finally, it is an overwhelming attempt to get a raise out of the American people and motivate them to act and question the practices and actions of the American government. Loose Change attempts to make the audience re-comprehend the events of September eleventh and open their eyes to the director’s ideas of government conspiracy.
The automatic assumption of the American citizens was that the attacks on September 11th 2001, were a result of terrorists actions and that we must combat such actions with a war on terror. Firstly, Loose Change attempts to have the audience view the terrorist attacks as a result of our own government’s actions and provides “facts” that support an idea that it was an attack on our country by our own government. Also, it pick’s apart our government’s actions afterwards and forces the audience to look deeper into the government’s ability to react to terrorizing and difficult situations that have a large impact on the entire country. In addition to these two things, Loose Change exploits the government’s inability to provide the American public with valid and detailed information regarding events that impacted thousands of lives. As with many other nation impacting events, such as hurricane Katrina, this documentary reveals to the audience the flaws in our government and especially illuminates the government’s inability to respond quickly to destructive events.
Loose Change’s attempt to motivate the American population into questioning the actions of our government in response to the terrorist attacks is a crucial defining concept of a documentary. They lead us to question response time when they bring up the topic of the army’s fighter jet’s inability to respond and intercept the hijacked flights. Also, they highlight the government’s poor security by revealing the information regarding the terrorist’s location in the United States prior to the attacks on September eleventh. Finally, they force us to question the government’s involvement when they reveal the benefits our government would gain with a war on terror, as it gives them reason to investigate any citizen for any reason that could lead to terrorism. Getting the American people to question government action could arguably be the main focus point of the documentary Loose Change.
The creation of a documentary is a result of one thing, the desire to force the audience to think of another point of view that is most likely different from their own, and this is done by Loose Change. It opens the American public’s eyes to the government’s actions surrounding September eleventh. Also, it attempts to change our opinions of those responsible for the terrorist attacks. Lastly, it motivates the American people to entertain the idea that the events of the last nine years are a result of our own government’s bid to gain control of our simplest freedoms and plunge us into a “war on terrorism” that gives our nation direct access to the natural resources of the countries in the Middle East. Loose Change may challenge the pride citizens have in our nation, but it provides insight into a very believable theory of the events of September 11th 2001.

Narrative across Culture: Age Groups of Gamorra

The heart pounding Gomorra, directed by Matteo Garrone, plunges the audience into an unbelievably in depth and deep insight into the heart of organized crime in Italy. One of the most visible aspects of the life of organized crime was the difference among age groups involved in organized crime in Italy. The youngest life influenced by crime was that of Toto, portrayed by Salvatore Abruzzese. Also, Marco and Ciro, portrayed by both Marco Macor and Ciro Petrone respectively, are two teens that become so enveloped in the mob that they lose their lives. Finally, Roberto, played by Carmine Paternoster, has to quit his job in order to avoid the devastating destructive force of the mob. Garrone’s Gomorra is a truly remarkable piece of cinematic history that defines the differences of age groups within the Italian mob with great detail.
A thirteen year old boy by the name of Toto becomes entangled in a gang that essentially forces him to walk the line between boy and man. Firstly, Toto is constantly trying to prove himself a man, as all young boys across all cultures do. Also, his workings with the gang involve him with the dealing of drugs along with the use of weapons that his mother says was the life of his father, and she wouldn’t let him follow in that path. Finally, although he greatly desired to be treated like a man and part of the gang, when the much older gang members asked him to kill Maria out of revenge, he is hesitant to complete the very act that will prove him worthy of manhood and the gang. Garrone allows the audience to see the terrifying effect the mob has on the life of even the youngest of adolescence.
Garrone’s cinematic masterpiece also follows two teens, Marco and Ciro, as they attempt to make their mark on the territory already claimed by the Camorra. They are desperate to prove that they are badasses and can do whatever they want whenever they want, without consequences. This brings them to the attention of the Camorra, whom has a tight grip on organized crime in Italy. They become extremely annoyed by the two’s inexperience, immaturity and lack of respect with regards to the way they act, holding up places where people are all over and their theft of the Camorra’s weapons. Although they speak of the teens’ immaturity and inexperience, instead of showing them the ropes or giving them a chance to prove themselves, the Camorra wipes them out. For people who profess to have great experience and maturity when considering “business”, they completely ignore the fact that the teens are inexperienced due to the fact that they are just starting out in the “business.”
Roberto is a recent graduate of college who works in a toxic waste management organization that is backed by the mob. His boss does whatever he can to ensure that the job is complete and money continues to flow. This includes opening up more waste sites for dumping regardless of its harmless effects on those living around the sites. The choices of his boss eventually lead to his quitting when he decides that he has had enough of the dumping. A mere college graduate decides to take the course of his life back into his own hands as he walks away from his boss. Although it is difficult for him to do so, Roberto’s attempt to lead an honest and strait path brings him to abandon the job that made him who he was. The organized crime even affects those attempting to better themselves with a higher education, and corrupts lives of all ages.
Garrone’s Gomorra is a perfect visual account of the mob’s ability to infect all ages of life. It takes over the lives of children, as seen in Toto’s struggle with maturity as he is forced to lure his friend’s mother to her death. Also, it is apparent in the lives of teens as Marco and Ciro attempt to make quick cash as they try to immerse themselves in the lifestyles of the mob. Finally, it is evident in young adult’s lives through Roberto’s challenge to take hold of his life and walk a path different from that of the life of crime. Gomorra, although it may be dark, beautifully reveals the affects of the mob against different age groups making it an amazing example of narrative across culture.

Works Cited
"Gomorra (2008)." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 11 Mar. 2010. .
Gomorra. Dir. Matteo Garrone. Perf. Salvatore Abruzzese, Marco Macor, Ciro Petrone, and Carmine Paternoster. 2008. DVD.