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Oliver Stone's Controversial Film - JFK

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Purpose Analyze the manner in which Oliver Stone’s JFK creates or fuels conspiracy theories concerning President Kennedy’s assassination. 1. Introduction The Oliver Stone’s film JFK tries to recreate a period in history tragic and also inspiring to its public. Stone tried to demonstrate that the corruption is present in any governmental work, so that people can escape of being punished, including the Assassination of a president and pass it out. Scandals and conspiracy theories run rampant in this society, which sustained Jim Garrison to ask what the authorities told him about the murder of JFK. Predominantly based on truth, the movie suggests to the people to ask authorities and make them feel they need to modify what goes wrong in this world. This film is a social documentary in every right. It states the facts that happened at that time and even though amplifies in the dialogue; it is principally based on truth. It responds to the need to educate the public on the mass idea of political democracy. Garrison’s theories and speculations were never proven, and the person on trial was eventually acquitted, yet his argument was so strong that it caught the attention of many, so much that Oliver Stone felt he should direct this pseudo-documentary. Using an associative mode to reel the viewer in, it is possible to relate the situation to Judas and Jesus in the Bible. Human nature has an inherent lust for power and control, and certain times in history; people have abused their power to gain personally.  JFK truly does this by showing the lives of Garrison’s family and the lives influenced directly by the shooting. It also follows the lines of a documentary of social protest. The viewer wants to know the truth about what they are being told and will do virtually anything to figure it out. “The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it.” - Joseph Goebbels This lie uncovered by Garrison, in fact, is virtually the biggest lie ever. The impact on democracy and our society is so great because, if true, the viewer will want to do something to right the wrongs so they can feel safe within the system again. 2.The Government Case The story pursues the possible case and the process which Jim Garrison generates across certain Government officials in killing JFK. He published the discoveries from the records of the assassination. He also noted that for Oswald was impossible to kill Kennedy and defined his theory on more than a single assassin. Then he thought that for everything to happen exactly it did, the person who provoked this tragedy must have a great power and also influence to camouflage everything so well. Actually, the media plays a neutral observer that is influenced by whatever is told. Firstly, the media sustains Garrison’s case, yet when influenced by the “higher powers” that he just tries to cause disorder, the media tries to deteriorate his reputation. Finally, one of the last and great images is the words written on the screen: “What is past is prologue”. What is interesting is the repeating history despite how many years ago an incident happened it has a huge impact on things that follows. The concept of molding the media and pulling off such a heinous act against America is quite terrifying. Garrison claimed Oswald innocent of his crimes and referred to him as a patsy or a scapegoat for the real murderers. How do we as a public know that something like that will not get framed on us? It is a mystery wrapped in an enigma left to chance; everything had to be carefully planned. Another picture from the movie said that “study the past”. How is it possible to repeat the same tragedy over and over again in history? Is there something we as a public can do to insure our safety? Such questions are raised in this movie.  JFK also uses certain techniques to relay the director’s impressions of the story. It is quite obvious what the director feels to be the truth, that there was a conspiracy to kill the president from extremely high government officials. By making some of the film actual footage and other parts a re-creation of events, Stone can definitely demonstrate that his ideas are placed on facts. Using a lot of different whistles and bells of the film industry, Oliver Stone truly brings a mind boggling memory of the murder of the President and the rumors regarding his assassination. By making a documentary, the full weight of the situation and the circumstances prove to be both enlightening and inspiring.  The Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the killing of the President. After that Oswald was killed by Jack Ruby, a vigilante, also acting alone. This was the official conclusion in the case; it has been proposed that, "depending on whose poll you quote, between 55 and 75 percent of Americans today believe there was a conspiracy

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