Gasland effectively conveys how serious the threat to the environment is from fracking without confusing the viewer with complex statistics. The facts and figures it does contain are presented in ways that allow the viewer to fully digest what the implications are while also capturing the audience's attention as the facts associated with environmental risks of fracking would astonish any viewer. The visual aid that a documentary brings is also helpful in encouraging the audience to have a specific point of view. It allows the viewer to witness firsthand the environmental effects that fracking is having, such as water contamination, land destruction, alteration of the geological formations and aesthetically displeasing drilling pads. Visual evidence is extremely powerful at convincing the viewer of what is fact, Josh Fox uses this to his advantage by providing recordings, from numerous households, of tap water being lit on fire after a fracking drilling pad caused a contamination in the water source. The style that the documentary is made in (a road trip diary) lets the viewer become immersed in the story, as though they are travelling with Fox on this adventure through South America. It allows them to experience the interest, shock and devastation that Fox goes through in this documentary, connecting the audience to the issue of fracking on an emotional level. The interview aspect of the documentary portrays the personal experience of those affected by fracking and of those associated with the process, which builds confidence in the viewer that the information they are gaining is genuine.
Review of GasLand
