our Hours at the Capitol Documentary Assessment

DOCUMENTARY/FILM ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW

Documentary/Film Assessment and Review

The documentary film I opted to focus on in this write-up is Four Hours at the Capitol (2021). To give a brief description of the film, it largely recounts the events of Jan 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building following Donald Trump’s defeat in the previous year’s elections. Located in Washington, D.C. this particular building happens to be the seat of one of the three branches of the federal government, i.e. the legislative branch.

That the seat of representative government in the country could be attacked by dissidents displeased with the outcome of the presidential elections could be seen as a brazen assault on democracy. This is more so the case because as has been alluded to in the film, the attack seems to have been a move to disrupt the counting of Electoral College votes by a joint session of congress. The dissidents hoped that a disruption of this nature would prolong the incumbent’s stay in power. Thanks to the film, a spotlight is also shined on the role of the media. However, what mostly stands out in this case is the emerging power of the social media. This is more so the case given that calls for violence were largely amplified on various social media platforms. As a matter of fact, after watching the documentary, one is left with little doubt over the growing influence as well as role of social media in the shaping of politics in America.

The film also helps us develop greater understanding of the factors that shape public opinion. Some of these factors – as has been demonstrated in the film - are inclusive of, but they are not limited to mass media and opinion leaders. Those who stormed the Capitol Building had their attitudes about the elections shaped by opinion leaders and mass media. This is all too clear from the interviews of some of the rioters.

In the final analysis, it would also be prudent to note that the film also has a moral bearing in the sense that there appears to have been a moral leadership vacuum throughout the insurrection. As has been pointed out in the film, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy by none other than Trump, the outgoing president. This has been presented as a desperate move or attempt to ensure that Joe Biden’s victory in the previous year’s elections were not certified. The film clearly indicates that the calls to action were made in no uncertain terms – with supporters being told “you’ll never take back our country with weakness … if you don’t fight like hell you won’t have a country anymore.” This, and the fact that the person at the helm of political leadership in the country at the time did little to nip the insurrection at the bud is a pointer towards unethical political leadership.