english responding

Doco nutshell

‘Testing Times’ in 2019, Tom Tilly’s documentary, explores the debate over pill testing at music festivals in Australia. It follows festival goers, experts, and international examples to show the debate between harm minimisation and zero tolerance.

article nutshell

‘Drop the Pretense’ in 2019 is an opinion article by Xavier Symons about pill testing at music festivals. It argues against harm minimisation and says young people should take responsibility and simply not use drugs.

techniques in the article

tone

binary opposition

generalisation

imperatives

HOW is tone used in the article

Symons writes with an academic, matter-of-fact tone: “we need effective drug-education programs.”

WHY is tone used in the article “we need effective drug-education programs”

This makes him sound credible and rational, not emotional. It positions the audience (newspaper readers, often parents) to trust him as an expert voice rather than a casual opinion.

HOW is binary opposition used in the article

He pits two opposing festival slogans against each other: “drug-free festivals” (his solution) vs “death-free festivals” (harm minimisation’s promise).

WHY is binary opposition used in the article (“drug-free” vs “death-free”)

By placing these side by side, he makes harm minimisation seem like it tolerates drug use and death, while his stance appears morally stronger and safer. It simplifies the choice for readers.

HOW is generalisation used in the article

He describes all young people who take drugs as “victims of their own drug culture” as if they’re all the same

WHY is generalisation used in the article “victims of their own drug culture”

This oversimplifies youth behaviour and strips away nuance, but it helps him blame the culture rather than individual circumstances. It positions readers to see drug-taking as reckless and self-inflicted

HOW are imperatives used in the article

He tells readers and youth what “we should” do: “drop the pretence of childish naivety.”

WHY are imperatives used in the article “drop the pretence of childish naivety.”

This commanding tone pressures the audience into agreement. It implies that disagreeing would be immature, which manipulates readers into siding with his zero-tolerance stance.

4 techniques in the documentary

juxtaposition
interviews
statistics
expert testimony

HOW is juxtaposition used in the documentary

It shows carefree festival scenes (“aerial and wide shots of the massive festival grounds” with upbeat music) contrasted with pill testing tents and dangerous drug results.

WHY is juxtaposition used in the documentary

To highlight the two sides of drug culture fun vs hidden risks and position audiences to see pill testing as necessary to protect young people.

HOW are interviews used in the documentary

Festivalgoers speak openly, like Rose explaining how she smuggles drugs (“roll it up and it looks like a dick”) and others saying “I feel great. I feel fine”

WHY are interviews used in the documentary

To make the issue real and relatable by showing authentic youth voices, encouraging empathy and showing that ignoring the reality of drug use won’t solve the problem.

HOW are statistics used in the documentary

Narration provides data, e.g. “over half… attend music festivals take drugs”

WHY are statistics used in the documentary

To give authority and show that drug use is widespread, positioning pill testing as a logical response to a common problem.

HOW is expert testimony used in the documentary

Experts are interviewed, like Christian Cobal stating, “There’s never been a drug-related death where pill testing has been offered”

WHY is expert testimony used in the documentary

To build credibility and prove that pill testing works, reassuring audiences that harm minimisation is responsible and evidence-based.