The Autobiographical Motif in the Films of Michael Moore

Konrad Klejsa

kwartalnik.filmowy@ispan.pl
University of Lodz (Poland)

Abstract

Michael Moore is not only one of the most distinguished but also one of the most controversial contem­porary filmmakers. His film style could be described as “heterogenic” since Moore’s films tend to employ various stylistic patterns, such as “explanatory” and “interactive mode” of documentary. The essay exam­ines Michael Moore’s documentaries in terms of their alleged implementation of director’s autobiography. To illustrate that thesis Klejsa describes both visual and audible qualities of Moore’s movies. First, the author examines the uses of first-person voice-over which is claimed to be a crucial feature of Moore’s film style. Thereafter, Klejsa argues that scenes containing footage from directors family archive build a strong autobiographical context as well. In the conclusion, autobiographical strategies of establishing director’s star persona in the realm of multimedia narratives have been discussed.


Keywords:

Michael Moore, autobiographism, voice-over

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Published
2011-03-31

Cited by

Klejsa, K. (2011) “The Autobiographical Motif in the Films of Michael Moore”, Kwartalnik Filmowy, (73), pp. 190–199. doi: 10.36744/kf.2996.

Authors

Konrad Klejsa 
kwartalnik.filmowy@ispan.pl
University of Lodz Poland

Adiunkt w Zakładzie Historii i Teorii Filmu Instytutu Teorii Literatury, Teatru i Sztuk Audiowizualnych Uniwersytetu Łódz­kiego; autor książki Filmowe oblicza kontestacji (2008).



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Copyright (c) 2011 Konrad Klejsa

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