Merchants of Doubt Documentary Essay Example

The name of the Documentary

The name of the clip I just watched is 'Merchants of Doubt' with Jamy Ian Swiss, Naomi Oreskes, and Fredrick Singer Movie

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Explaining what I did not like

'Merchants of Doubt' is fascinating because it opens our eyes to see what the tobacco industries are hiding. The talks were great, but one area that I did not like is when Jamy Ian Swiss addressed Robert Kenner (the director). The reason is that he is a professional illusionist and an honest liar that makes money by tricking and convincing people that the impossible can be possible (Del, 2016). He even demonstrated the techniques used to deceive the audience, particularly for entertainment if the merchants were in doubt.

The argument in the film

The debate in the 'Merchants of Doubt' is to show how public relation tactics are used to develop the tobacco industry so that their business could be protected from research that would pose the risks of smoking (Del, 2016). By using a professional magician, the documentary tries to point out how the methods and tactics are used to distract the audience even when the illusions are performed. As a result, the tricks delay the government's regulations from establishing a consensus about smoking and health risks.

Why I agree with the argument

One reason why I agree with this argument is that there is misdirection from the tobacco lobbyists and how they represent fraud information to the public. This eventually slowed down the cause of progress by sowing confusion to the existing scientific community. The idea behind this debate is not to win but sustain and create the illusion of the discussion, and that's why I agree because the public is frustrated and delayed by the truth.

Interesting Concepts from the Film

One concept is the examination of the corporate-financed public relations and how it sows skepticism and confusion about scientific research

The strategies of invoking noble ideas and smearing critics that deceive the audience how they have the freedom from nicotine addiction (Del, 2016).

How the tobacco company takes an oath during the congressional proceeding and hearing and how they lie about the issue of collective memory

How the scientific procedures were predicted on intellectual humility and how false hypothesis led to the face of new data.

One concept I have done more research

One theory collected is how the public is deceived that they will not be addicted to nicotine. After doing a little research at the Mayo Clinic website, I realized that when a human body gets used to nicotine, it alters with their moods and also affects the brain. This means that the human body will always trigger the mind that nicotine is vital and necessary (Mayo clinic, 2018). As a result, it causes withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and irritability.

References

Del, R. (2016, December 24). Retrieved January 23, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-npe7Bczj3g

Mayoclinic. (2018, March 09). Nicotine Dependence. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nicotine-dependence/symptoms-causes/syc-20351584