The Meth Epidemic - 2005 - Genre Analysis

Title: The Meth Epidemic - 2005

Themes: The Meth Epidemic documentary is an investigative and crime documentary which focuses on the abuse, crime and legislation of Meth.  It is a direct and formal documentary which uses numerous camera shots, editing, sound and mise en scene.

Camera:

This documentary uses a range of close ups to address the topic. Photographic montages are used throughout it to show the effects of using Meth and to create a sense of sympathy. There is a use of establishing shots to emphasise the fact that Meth is spreading across the United States. There are relevant cutaways and master shots in this documentary to show examples of drug paraphernalia.  A hand-held camera is used in a burnt house at the start of the documentary to show the consequences of cooking Meth.

During interviews the rule-of-thirds is used as well as the talking heads shot. A use of close ups is used on some interviews to show their importance. But some of the shots in this documentary are breaking the idea of rule-of-thirds by having the interviewee in the centre of the shot. Some of the interviews also lack mise en scene in the background

background and are external shots with the idea of ‘floating heads’. Photographic montages are used in this documentary to show the effects of taking Meth on the human body. Relevant cutaways and master shots are used throughout this documentary and the Emesco Brothers photograph is shot against a chain link fence to emphasise the fact that they are in prison. 

Editing:

This documentary features jump cuts in a caravan that is being investigated. The graphics of the ‘Meth’ title is distressed and imperfect to emphasis what Meth does to the body. Throughout this documentary there is a large use of ‘B’ roll footage of medications and chemists. Also, the graphics on the interviews that have been edited in show the names and job roles of the interviewees. These graphics are a simplistic white text.

Sound:

In this documentary there is a large use of non-diegetic sound-beds, this is mainly in the form of emotive music. The music runs throughout the photographic montage and discordances whilst in the ‘investigation.’ The documentary uses ‘voice of God’ narration throughout it making this an expository documentary.  

Mise en Scene:

The mise en scene in this documentary represents the drug paraphernalia through the use of photographs to show the contrast between someone who had only just started to take Meth and someone who is addicted to the drug.The computers in the news office show articles on Meth and statistics on spreadsheets and graphs. There is a use of archive footage in this documentary and a use of visuals in/on location. These are reconstructions to enhance the entertainment value of the documentary.