Looking At “The War” Through a Media Literacy Lens
by Frank Baker, media educator
Copyright 2007

The War- A Film By Ken Burns is a documentary. As such it needs to be examined for the genre it represents. 
Every producer has a point-of-view.  Every producer uses a variety of techniques to convey a message and perspective. 
Every producer includes details, but inevitably, leaves other things out. As you watch The War, have your students
consider the following:

1. Even though black-and-white scenes of battles include loud sounds of explosions and/or guns going off,
the producers concede that all of the original footage came to them silent. Students might wish to discuss
the ethics of dubbing in sound effects.

2. The Ken Burns Effect: this refers to Burns’ practice of zooming the lens or panning the camera in order to give
the photograph “action.” Students might be asked to notice this effect and discuss its relevance. (download an example)
Read more about the effect here.

3.  Burns does not use official WWII experts in this series. Why did he not use them, when other documentaries (such
as The History Channel and The Military Channel) do use them? So, we might ask, who are the experts he uses?  
What makes one an “expert?”

4. Burns also utilizes actors during voice-over segments. In what ways are known actors’ voices giving credibility
to the series?  Why would an actor want to be involved in a Ken Burns production?

5. Why did Burns choose the four geographically scattered locations in the US to tell The War story?  
What do the four areas represent?

6. Burns’ production made news because some groups felt he had ignored them. Students should explore who might
be left out of The War and why; where might one go to learn their stories? How did Burns respond to the controversy
and did his response satisfy the critics?

7. What role does music play in The War?  How does music evoke a mood? Might other, different musical selections,
change the way we might understand a scene?

NOTE: you may wish to download this list of critical viewing questions for further analysis.

For more about media literacy, documentaries, and the language of film, visit the Media Literacy Clearinghouse, www.frankwbaker.com