Shoot to Kill - Bin Laden Notes

BIN LADEN: SHOOT TO KILL

ROLE OF MEDIA

The media played a crucial role in shaping public perception of Bin Laden and the narrative surrounding the mission to capture him. Coverage ranged from sensationalized reports of his whereabouts to in-depth analyses of his ideology and influence on terrorism. This widespread attention not only heightened public interest but also impacted the decisions made by government officials regarding the operation.

AIM OF DOCUMENTARY (ROLE OF MEDIA)

  • Primary Goals

    • To Inform:

    • Provides viewers with information regarding past events, specifically detailing Barack Obama’s involvement in the operation to kill Bin Laden.

    • To Educate:

    • Aims to assist viewers in forming an informed opinion about Obama's leadership skills related to the U.S. government's actions against Bin Laden.

    • To Entertain:

    • Includes dramatic reconstructions reminiscent of high-budget action films to engage viewers.

    • To Influence:

    • Intentionally crafted to influence U.S. voters' behavior in favor of Obama’s re-election and to transmit the message that America will relentlessly pursue justice against those who oppose it.

KEY MESSAGES IN TEXT

  • Propaganda Campaign Goals

    • To promote the idea that Barack Obama should be re-elected.

    • Presents Obama as the key figure responsible for delivering justice for 9/11 by successfully eliminating Bin Laden.

    • Establishes a narrative where American citizens are portrayed as heroes who protect their nation, emphasizing the U.S. as the dominant superpower.

    • Overall message: "Don't mess with America."

AUDIENCE

INTENDED AUDIENCE

  • Demographics

    • Gender: Unisex, as 9/11 impacted all demographics.

    • Age Groups:

    • 18-60 years old: All ages affected by 9/11 seeking justice.

    • 18-30 years old: Attracted to action scenes enhanced by cinematic techniques.

    • 31-60 years old: Engaged by interviews, factual content, and archival footage.

    • Interests: Politics, history, world conflicts, military events, current events, and post-9/11 themes.

FEELINGS ABOUT COUNTRY

  • Emotional Responses

    • Patriotic Feelings:

    • Strong and unwavering devotion to the country.

    • Desire for Justice:

    • Post-9/11, emotional and psychological impacts influenced a collective longing for justice.

    • Dramatic re-enactments of U.S. soldiers killing Bin Laden provide catharsis by releasing pent-up emotions.

AUDIENCE EXPECTATIONS

  • What the Audience Wants to See

    • A decisive leader in the President.

    • Visualization of post-9/11 fantasies, particularly the successful assassination of Bin Laden sanctioned by the President.

    • A portrayal of America as strong and powerful.

CONTEXT: POLITICS

  • Obama’s Political Context

    • Seeking re-election amid a decline in popularity, attributed to various factors including right-wing media scrutiny and economic issues.

    • The narrative centered around perceived inability to keep America safe.

    • Strategy involved rebranding himself as the President who successfully led the assassination of Bin Laden.

    • A propaganda campaign commenced, including collaboration with Hollywood for the film "Zero Dark Thirty."

    • Ethical concerns were raised as Obama bypassed several national security protocols to ensure his re-election.

CONTEXT: POLITICS 2010-2012

  • Approval Ratings

    • Obama's job approval rating fell from 56% to 43% over six months.

    • Ratings were at 56% at the time of Bin Laden's death, dropping drastically afterward.

    • Documentaries aired mid-2012 prompted the question of their impact on public perception.

CONTEXT: POLITICS 2010-2012 (cont.)

  • Post-Broadcast Ratings

    • Data indicated that Obama's approval ratings rose above 40% immediately after the documentary's broadcast.

    • Ratios climbed back to above 50%, reaching approximately 55% by election time, categorizing this as a 'safe' range.

NARRATIVE

  • NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT

    • President Obama announces the death of Osama Bin Laden.

NARRATIVE: Prologue & Coda

  • Prologue

    • Narration recounts the history surrounding Bin Laden's evasion and shows footage of terrorist attacks, outlining the failure of former President George Bush to capture him.

    • Highlights Obama's achievement in his first term as the one who captured the mastermind behind 9/11—setting him up as a contender for re-election.

  • Coda

    • Ends with celebratory footage of Americans rejoicing post-announcement, chanting Obama's name, juxtaposed with the CIA specialist’s remark emphasizing ongoing challenges.

    • Calls viewers to action in supporting Obama's re-election for continued success.

NARRATIVE: Disruption

  • Disruption Element

    • 9/11 event ignited the narrative, prompting strong feelings of anger.

NARRATIVE: Binary Opposition

  • Concept of Binary Opposition

    • Highlights the clash between contrasting sides (America vs. Bin Laden).

    • Builds tension as it suggests Bin Laden may plot against Obama, urging the President to act preemptively.

    • Through strategic narrative implication, it hints at threats unspoken, invoking fear and motivation among viewers.

REPRESENTATION: BARACK OBAMA

Technical Codes

  • Camera Angles

    • Slightly low-angle Medium Close Ups (MCU) positioned Obama better compared to other figures, conveying subtle authority and enhancing trustworthiness.

    • Avoids Close Ups (CU) to cultivate a friendly, approachable image versus more menacing depictions of Bin Laden.

Mise-en-scene

  • Visual Presentation

    • Utilizes warm lighting contrasting with other interviewees to convey Obama’s caring nature while softening the weight of harsh comments on assassinations.

    • Out of focus backgrounds (U.S. flag and Presidential Seal) subtly reinforce notions of patriotism and leadership without overt presentation.

Juxtaposition of Strong Language

  • Language Techniques

    • Employs clinical language paired with softer visual presentation to avoid portraying Obama as bloodthirsty or violent.

REPRESENTATION: CIA & GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES

Ben Rhodes

  • Role Identification

    • Noted as Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications.

Technical Codes

  • Angles and Lighting

    • Neutral Angle Close Ups (CU) foster trust, placing interviewees at eye-level with viewers, reinforcing honesty.

    • Lighting emphasizes espionage themes, blending bright with darker backgrounds to signify the emergence of truth from secretive operations.

REPRESENTATION: U.S. MILITARY

  • Dramatic Reconstructions

    • Filmed in the cinema verite style, making it appear authentic.

    • Depicts soldiers as action heroes, glamorizing military operations to excite viewers over Bin Laden’s execution.

CENTRAL ELEMENT: Bin Laden Compound

  • Geographical Specification

    • Bin Laden’s compound located in Abbottabad, N.W.F.P., Pakistan, with geographical coordinates of 34° 10' 9" N, 73° 14' 33" E.

REPRESENTATION: U.S. MILITARY

Cinematic Techniques

  • Visual Strategies

    • Low-angle shots and dark lighting used to portray soldiers as strong and brave while highlighting the danger of their missions.

    • Combination of techniques presents them as modern-day heroes.

REPRESENTATION: BIN LADEN & FOLLOWERS OF ISLAM

Archive Footage

  • Purpose

    • Establishes Bin Laden as the antagonist.

    • Shapes viewer opinions and reinforces Obama’s narrative.

    • Makes Bin Laden appear distant and threatening through the coupling of clips from 9/11.

Use of LS and ECU

  • Framing Techniques

    • Long Shots (LS) depict him as cold and elusive; Extreme Close Ups (ECU) imply a threat.

    • Juxtaposes Obama’s portrayal, establishing a clear 'us vs. them' divide, perpetuating the myth that most Muslims support Bin Laden.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

  • Executive Order Necessity

    • Obama required to request declassification of operation details, cleared through various government entities.

    • Protection of Navy Seals and operatives involved was paramount.

  • Vetting Information

    • Public domain information underwent scrutiny by specialists to ensure safety.

  • Criticism on Information Disclosure

    • Obama faced backlash for endangering personnel and exploiting sensitive information for political gain.

QUESTION EXEMPLAR

  • Impact of Media Content

    • (a) Media can influence attitudes and behavior, specific attention to how the documentary focuses on voter influence towards Obama’s re-election.

    • (b) Emphasizes narrative techniques and representation aspects as key influencers for public perception and voting behavior.

CONCLUSION

  • Final Thoughts

    • Study of the documentary reveals the crafted strategies used for influence, portraying Obama as a heroic figure and tapping into emotional sentiments around 9/11, positioning voters towards a favorable response in the electoral context.