LOUIS THEROUX: MOST HATED FAMILY IN

AMERICA

BBC

ABOUT THE SHOW

•  A 2007 BBC documentary film written and presented by, Louis Theroux about the family at the core of the Westboro Baptist Church.

• Includes footage of members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketing at funerals of United States soldiers, and protesting against gay rights.

• This documentary is expository as it informs the audience of a new, extreme way of like that most likely has not been seen before.

AUDIENCE EFFECTS

• Shocking: The film is very shocking as it exposes a very extreme way of life, consisting of behaviour that would be deemed unacceptable.

• Informative: Teaching of the religion and the way of life this elite cult live. Most of the audience will not have been exposed to this family or their beliefs before.

STYLISTIC FEATURESFeature Effect

Episode opens immediately with the family singing a very controversial song, with only the BBC logo at the bottom of the screen, no voiceover until the song is finished.

Shocks the reader straight away and draws them in.

Voiceover and documentarian (both Louis Theroux) introduces the subject matter of the series and background facts about them whilst showing a montage of the series highlights

Allows the audience to become familiar with the subject and gives an insight to what the rest of the series will be about. Using a well known and well-liked documentarian also allows the audience to relate to and grow towards his views on the subject.

During the montage, other interviews in the past with the family on TV are shown, e.g. on the news or talk shows

This presents the views on the family from other people to encourage the audience in which way they should feel towards the subject.

STYLISTIC FEATURES

Feature Effect

The title then comes up on a screen of it’s own in the form of protest signs

Represents the activities of the family

The music then changes from loud and upbeat whilst showing the series climaxes to a more mellow music as the specific scenes of that episode begin.

Displays the most important parts of the series with a louder music. However the happy music played almost throughout contrasts the content of the subject matter as it is mostly negative.