Visual Arguments comparing Schindler's List and Black Hawk Down

The movie trailers for both Schindler's List and Black Hawk Down mainly appeal to the audience’s emotion/pathos. Both films evoke emotion by reiterating that these stories are true, as well as tragic. The two stories being told are of events that played their part in shaping the world as it is today. Both telling very different stories, however they equally show a deep theme of bravery and sacrifice. 

After the first day Schindler’s List opened to public theaters the movie was already being considered one of the most powerful films of our generation. Director Steven Spielberg wanted to portray an accurate account of the holocaust by using a true awe inspiring story. The trailer appeals to the audience’s pathos as well as logos by use of several strategies. The trailer is shot with very little dialogue forcing the audience to focus on the horrific true events of the holocaust. The lack of dialogue emphasizes the few words that are said towards the end of the trailer “The List is Life” this statement along with the title of the film point to some obvious importance to the plot of the movie. The trailer is shot in an old black and white. This gives the movie a since of credibility letting it appear as an old documentary enforcing the fact that these events are not fiction.

Black Hawk Down opens with the statement “Based on an Actual Event” then fades to what looks like a suffering African. We then find out the setting for the trailer, which is Somalia, East Africa. This opening shot appeals to the audience’s emotion, being a true story people are more likely to be interested. A man saying, “This is our War” with gloomy music playing the background sets the stage for an action trailer. The first minute of the trailer shows the situation that these men have been put in, a situation that goes terribly wrong after a Black Hawk helicopter goes down. Half way through the trailer, after they show the helicopter going down, the clip changes tempo showing a very fast paced battle. The trailer argues that this movie should be watched by showing some of the emotions of war. Moments are seen showing bravery and honor, letting the audience view some of the heroic decisions that these men had to make.

Both of these trailers use texts that apply emotion, logic and credibility to their over all argument. The argument being to persuade viewers like me to purchase another ten dollar ticket next time I feel like going out. I can personally say that these trailers did a good job of sucking me into watching these movies because I have seen both of them several times.