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August 7, 2006
Documenting Cynthia
One of the documentaries I most regret missing at Silverdoc was American Blackout (IMDB) Ian Inaba's documentary about Georgia's embatteld Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. McKinney has been in the news recently in part due to her scuffle with a Capitol police officer in March (a grand jury declined to indict her), and because of a strong primary challenge by former DeKalb County commissioner Hank Johnson, but she has always been a polarizing figure in state and national politics because of her outspoken views on a number of topics. When I lived in Atlanta, I lived in McKinney's district and while I voted against her in the 2002 Democratic primary, I have always appreciated her support for a number of progressive causes. Given that personal connection and my general interest in political documentary, I had hoped to catch American Blackout at Silverdocs.
For now, this New York Times article provides a nice overview of the role of documentary in shaping public opinion and possibly influencing elections. In the article Brenda Goodman notes that Blackout played at the Midtown 8, the major art house theater in Atlanta recently, and the movie has played at least a minor role in McKinney's re-election campaign. I'm inclined here to agree with Michael Cornfield, who teaches political strategy and message at George Washington University, in thinking that while political documentaries may reinforce people's feelings, it's soemwhat more difficult to determine whether these documentaries actually translate into votes.
But it's also worth noting that Blackout also focuses on the disenfranchisement of many black voters in Florida in 2000 and in Ohio in 2004, with reporter Greg Palast, among others, serving as a commentator, and if American Blackout can provoke a larger conversation about voter disenfranchisement, then I think it will be providing a valuable service.
Posted by chuck at August 7, 2006 9:29 AM
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