Hence the need to explore the representations demonstrated and how it is situated in the global socio-political discourse to fundamentally explore the extent to which it is truly “multi-layered”. Exploring IMDb's brief description of the film, they outline the film as a (crime) thriller as well as a “multi-layered examination” of a true story. One can thus consider the potential of Captain Phillips to have a significant impact on the public opinion concerning Somali ‘pirates’. “In particular, narrative forms-including books, television shows, and movies-have an incredible ability to influence the images and perceptions of individuals and society in general about numerous topics” (Pautz, 2016, p.250). The ability of films to shape public discussion and influence news sources demonstrates the importance that this form of popular culture has on perceptions.
#Captin phillips real situation movie#
This film was released in 2013 and was a box-office hit, with a profit of around $220 million and 6 Oscars nominations (Internet Movie Database, 2013). Moreover, our analysis of the film is presented in three layers of CDA.Ĭaptain Phillips was chosen to investigate the discourse behind the portrayal of Somali ‘pirates’ in Western media. We will then continue with describing our conceptual framework and methodology. We will begin with explaining why we chose this film for our analysis. Through this analysis, we will argue that the film Captain Phillips misrepresents and generalises the Somali people as criminal ‘pirates’ and continues a distorted unequal view of the relations between Somalia and America and the West in the discourse. Therefore, this discussion will showcase through three layers of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) how Captain Phillips exhibits a distorted view of Somalis within the film and as subordinate in the domineering relationship with the United States (US) and the West. This discussion will outline the misrepresentations and generalisations of the Somalis in this film and how Somalia is viewed and referred to in opposition to the US and the West. The images and scenes which are presented constantly contrast between the life and actions of the American crew versus the Somali crew. It is the visualisation of the biography of the kidnapped Captain Richard Phillips. The film Captain Phillips follows the hijacking of an American boat and kidnapping of its Captain by Somali men, so-called pirates.
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