Summary of the Documentary, Blackfish
Verjine Tarkhanian
English 101
Prof. Hamalian
November 12, 2014
Essay: Blackfish
The documentary film Blackfish which we saw in our class, was very interesting and scary. The documentary was based on a true story of a killer whale killing its trainer of many years. Till this day no know will ever know what clicked in that mammals head to turn against its trainer the way that it did. When looking at the film, it shows mostly the dangerous side of the mammal and how it was captured at such a young age, and the history it had with killing. It doesn’t really show the side of Sea World, or the trainers that train these mammals to become the best performers that they are. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite uses shocking footage and emotional interviews to present a convincing case against keeping these wild animals for human entertainment. The thesis of my essay is we should not abuse animals for our own enjoyment. Yes I too have taken my children to Sea World many times, and love seeing these beautiful sea animals, but when you stop and think one second the treatment they actual receive to become what they are today, it is just very harsh. Just like human beings, these animals too like to be respected and treated nicely. Torture will never get them to become what the trainer wanted them to be. In the documentary, there are several interviews from many different people, some who were present during the incident, and some who know people that have participated in capturing these orcas, or just worked in Sea World. BLACKFISH is a documentary film about the multiple incidents, including the three deaths that provoked the ongoing court case between Sea World, and OSHA, the "Occupational Safety and Health Admissions", tells the story of Tilikum, a notoriously aggressive orca that killed three people while in captivity. While watching the film, I saw this one footage, where Tilikum the whale was actually being abused by its own female orcas, in the Sea World tank.
English 101
Prof. Hamalian
November 12, 2014
Essay: Blackfish
The documentary film Blackfish which we saw in our class, was very interesting and scary. The documentary was based on a true story of a killer whale killing its trainer of many years. Till this day no know will ever know what clicked in that mammals head to turn against its trainer the way that it did. When looking at the film, it shows mostly the dangerous side of the mammal and how it was captured at such a young age, and the history it had with killing. It doesn’t really show the side of Sea World, or the trainers that train these mammals to become the best performers that they are. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite uses shocking footage and emotional interviews to present a convincing case against keeping these wild animals for human entertainment. The thesis of my essay is we should not abuse animals for our own enjoyment. Yes I too have taken my children to Sea World many times, and love seeing these beautiful sea animals, but when you stop and think one second the treatment they actual receive to become what they are today, it is just very harsh. Just like human beings, these animals too like to be respected and treated nicely. Torture will never get them to become what the trainer wanted them to be. In the documentary, there are several interviews from many different people, some who were present during the incident, and some who know people that have participated in capturing these orcas, or just worked in Sea World. BLACKFISH is a documentary film about the multiple incidents, including the three deaths that provoked the ongoing court case between Sea World, and OSHA, the "Occupational Safety and Health Admissions", tells the story of Tilikum, a notoriously aggressive orca that killed three people while in captivity. While watching the film, I saw this one footage, where Tilikum the whale was actually being abused by its own female orcas, in the Sea World tank.
Cited: CNN.Com, “ SeaWorld responds to questions about captive orcas, 'Blackfish ' film”, 28, Oct. 2013. Thorn, Adam. "The Effect Captivity Has on Whales." By Adam Thorn. Critters, 25 Oct. 2010. Adams, Nathan. "New SeaWorld Ad Defends the Park Against 'Blackfish '" Film School Rejects.