Research Paper on:
Comparative Analysis of Roger and Me and COPS

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
in the making of documentaries. It is not as if documentaries are supposed to be unbiased, but when viewing reality, the slant can be so entrenched in the works, that  it is hard to tell what is reality and what is the filmmakers point of view. Populism is in fact found in many works and there are numerous examples of  this. In comparing and contrasting two works--which serves to show both sides of the political spectrum--the film Roger & Me, produced by Michael Moore, will be looked at along with  the Fox networks hit series COPS. Populism is seemingly represented in both. Before delving into the two styles of documentary, populism should be defined. There are in fact several  different ways to look at populism. Kazin argues that it is "a persistent yet mutable style of political rhetoric with roots deep in the nineteenth century" (qtd. in "Populism" PG).  In any event, no matter where it comes from, one certainly can say that it is related to a political style of communication. The late 19th-century populist movement in the  United States, for example, had many noteworthy features and as Lyons put it, "It promoted forms of mass democratic participation; popularized anti-monopolism and trust-busting sentiments, put the brakes on the  greediest corporate pillagers and the concentration of economic power; demanded accountability of elected officials; formed cooperatives that promoted humane working relationships and economic justice; and set the stage for substantial  reforms in the economic system" (qtd. in "Populism" PG). Clearly, populism can send important messages to the masses, and while that is the case, people do have to keep in  mind that there are always varying points of view. What is conveyed by powerful rhetoric is again, just one idea. Populism in film and on television can be very powerful.