Rhetorical Analysis of the Film, Waiting for Superman Essay -- Film An

Educational systems in America are impaired, and the very educators that are meant to teach are the one’s pulling it down. That is the apparent message that Davis Guggenheim attempts to convey in his documentary â€Å"Waiting for Superman†. He uses many strategies to get his message across. Some of these include cartoons, children, and those reformers that are attempting to pull the system out of the ditch that it has found its way into. He makes his point very well, and uses facts and figures correctly. He does leave out some of the opinions of the opposing views, but it does not take away from his point that the educational system in America is in need of repair. Guggenheim uses those and other devices to inspire action within the masses, and highlight a topic that has been recently shrouded by other problems our nation faces today. He also places blame upon the ‘system’ itself, many reasons add to this conclusion such as refusal to make change, with tenure being the central idea that cripples education. Guggenheim focuses his documentary on the teachers that make-up a large portion of the system. One of his strongest arguments is that the teachers are the problem, and the inability to rid schools of the incompetent teachers is the primary reason American schools are coming in so low in the international rankings. He also shares many facts and statistics that are staggering by their lonesome, but he presents them in such a way to exaggerate them by use of animation, music, and narration. Some of these animations add visuals when a complex idea is being described, such as the idea of the ‘lemon dance† or the ‘rubber room’ in New York. Guggenheim also takes the idea of tenure and uses these techniques to twist tenure into somethi... ... and our sense of guilt with his documentary. Which, while is not the most admirable technique, it causes the audiences to start thinking about what they are doing to help or hurt the educational system, and what our kids are receiving from the educators around them. This film is one that has faults, but is also very credible and a major wake-up call for those currently in power to make a change and help improve the schools of America, securing a better future for all. Works Cited Patterson, James. "Where are you Superman?" Rev. of 'Waiting for Superman'. (June 2011): Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 Nov. 2011. Schwarzbaum, Lisa. â€Å"Waiting for ‘Superman’† Rev. of ‘Waiting for Superman’. (October 2010): Academic Search Complete. Web. Nov. 2011 Guggenhaim, Davis. ‘Waiting for Superman’. 2010. Film.