Interview Analysis

Jade Goody was interviewed by Davina Mccall on Big Brother after her eviction. The main purpose for the interview was to get information on what happened between herself and another contestant called Shilpa Shetty as Jade potrayed herself as a bully. Davina was asking Jade open questions and getting her to explain situations that viewers wanted to know more about. Jade would answer a question that Davina asked and Davina would ask question relating to her response. The interview was informative as it informed the viewers in detail of what Jade was actually thinking and doing when speaking to Shilpa the way she did.

I would say that Davina was active listening and didn't try and build a relationship with Jade as her main concern was to gather information on the situation for the viewers. She was very direct with her questions and made sure she got the answer she required by asking the same question in a different way.

Cruel Cut

1. How effective is this documentary? Consider the techniques and conventions used as well as the way in which the campaign is conveyed to the audience.

 Straight away the presenter caught viewers attention by graphically explaining her experience of female Genital Mutilation. Viewers immediately felt empathic for her as she explained her experiences and then she got other women to talk about their experiences where we saw women of different ages and races talking about a similar experience, which was shocking.

What the presenter done was smart as she started with herself then other women showing that she wasn't alone in the subject, as the programme went on we heard the complications of genital mutilation such as being infertile, which again made the viewers empathic. This documentary targeted not only women but also men and it was clear that she wanted to educate both genders as she interviewed a group of religious boys on their views of genital mutilation and they all said that it was ok and a good thing until the presenter, Leyla Hussein, showed them graphically what women go through and immediately changed their opinion.

Leyla Hussein interviewed everyone that was relevant to the topic, not just members of the public but doctors, MPs and other professionals. This gave us a variety of opinions and views making the programme interesting but also causing a debate on whether it is right or wrong for women to go through genital mutilation. Making it into a debatable topic gets people talking about, which of course makes people aware.  She also asked open questions which led to descriptive answers which is a great technique as we get to hear detailed opinions and views. 

 

2.  What is your personal response to the documentary?
I found the programme very hard to watch in all honesty. I was so emphatic toward the presenter and other women go through this for obvious reasons, first of all the pain but also the humiliation of being forced to have this done themselves. I think the presenter was very brave to talk from experience but also commendable as not many people, like myself, knew this even happened. She educated us on the subject. I was really moved when the women who went through genital mutilation wasn't able to conceive a baby because of what had happened to her, I just like it wasn't her fault and she was being punished for it, it was really sad. Leyla, the presenter, first educated all of us on the subject and then started a campaign to stop it happening which is really honourable.

Abortion - My Views

In the summer, BBC Three broadcasted an hour long documentary about Abortion and the people of Ireland's views. It's not secret that Ireland, as a country, is against abortion as it is a catholic country. The programme was both sided showing people who are campaigning for abortion and others campaigning against abortion. We also saw stories of a woman who had to through their pregnancy even though they knew the baby wouldn't live and another woman who had to travel to the UK in order to get an abortion, paying £1,000 for the procedure, accommodation and travel. The consequences for women who do get an abortion is that they get jail time.

The documentary was effective because it should viewers two sides of the topic and left it up to them to decide what was right and what was wrong, it was their own personal preference. It made people think of their choices and an insight on how different the UK was compared to Ireland.

I see the argument on both sides but my personal opinion is that women should have a choice on whether they keep the baby or not. It's not fair to not give them an option, although I know it's killing life but the women knows what situation she is in and if she's mentally prepared to bring up a child.  During the documentary I was really empathic towards the woman who had to keep her baby even though she knew it was dead. The country wouldn't allow her to have an abortion even though they knew the end result, it's unfair and heart-breaking.

For a religious perspective I do see the problem, essentially God should be the one who to decide whether a person lives or not as he is the one who gave us life. I am 95% pro abortion as there can be a lot of complications with pregnancy or the timing is not right and you know you shouldn't put another life in that situation. I'm also 5% against abortion from a religious perspective.