2. 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.
3. 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.
4. STYLISTIC FEATURES
Feature 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.
5. 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.
