Bowling for Columbine is a documentary film released in 2002, written, directed, and narrated by Michael Moore It explores the circumstances surrounding the 1999 Columbine High School tragedy, and delves further into America's history with violence, fear-mongering and gun control legislation. The documentary uses interviews with the victims' families, witnesses, the shooters' families and journalists, as well as footage of news and media coverage to illustrate these various perspectives. It has received a plethora of awards and critical acclaim, and is now seen as a classic in the documentary genre.
Interesting Essay Topic Ideas
1. The Legacy of Bowling for Columbine: Exploring how Michael Moore's documentary has shaped public opinion and understanding of the nature of violence and needed gun control reform.
2. Weeping with the Columbine: Examining the emotional complexity of the victims' families and those surrounding the tragedy, both in the film and in reality.
3. Media Responsibility in the Aftermath of Tragedy: Examining if and how the media played a role in how the news of the Columbine shooting was disseminated, and if the media should bear some of the responsibility for the tragedy.
4. Unpacking the “Us vs. Them” Mindset of the Shooters: Analyzing the shooters' thinking, in order to better understand why they chose the course of action that they did.
5. The Role of Mental Illness in the Columbine Tragedy: Examining the scientific research and evidence concerning mental illness in relation to the Columbine shooting, and possible implications for understanding the role of mental illness in other violent crimes.