Introduction
Popular media projects designed not only to entertain but also to convey important thoughts and ideas to the public are increasingly appearing in the modern media environment. One of such products is the documentary TV series Finding Your Roots, hosted and produced by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This show is one of the most acclaimed on PBS, and viewers respect the work done by the authors. In the TV series, celebrities are presented as guests whose past, up to several centuries ago, is offered to them as historical findings collected by the show’s team.
As an object of analysis, episode ten of season six will be considered, which affects the criminal past of the invited guests’ relatives. One can hardly name the negative features of the episode in question; conversely, it can be described by only positive criteria, such as the uniqueness of the collected data, the quality of the camera work, and the value of the topics covered. Finding Your Roots: Criminal Kind fulfills an important social mission by encouraging people to learn more about their past and allowing them to see how extraordinary ancestral stories can be.
Uniqueness of the Collected Data
One of the strengths of the episode in question is the uniqueness and accuracy of the data collected by the team of Finding Your Roots. For instance, Gates shows to Laura Linney, one of the guests, “the passenger list from the ship on which your ancestors sailed from 1768” (00:14:32-00:14:40). For the guests of the episode, such findings are significantly valuable, and for the audience, the reaction of the celebrities is interesting. As a result, due to extensive research work, along with the criminal past of their ancestors, the guests learn much about their roots, which corresponds to the title of the show.
Camera Work
Although the emphasis is on stories rather than visual effects, the camera work of this episode deserves respect. For example, by making a close-up of a particular journal entry or slowing down the shooting speed, the operator engages the audience, thereby creating the illusion of being completely immersed in the guest’s story. Mr. Gates interacts with the participants in the episode in a free manner, but no emotion is hidden from the viewer’s eyes. Professional camera work allows the audience to tune in with the showman and the guest, which contributes to maintaining a friendly atmosphere.
Value of the Topics Covered
One of the obvious strengths of this episode is the value of the topics covered from a philosophical perspective that encourages the audience to think. For instance, Lisa Jing, the guest of the episode, reflects on her grandmother’s past and notes that “now, at 44, thinking how young she was,” she understands much, as well as the viewer (Gates 00:24:45-00:24:50). Findings from past eras captivate the guests and viewers and encourage the awareness of significant values that have not changed for centuries, for example, humanity and mercy, and this makes the episode culturally important.
Conclusion
The uniqueness of Finding Your Roots: Criminal Kind lies in its impact on the perception of studying ancestral history, and this message is a valuable social mission. The research performed by the show’s team, professional camera work, and the philosophical background of the covered topics are the strengths of the video, which explain the audience’s interest. Reviewing one’s roots is vital for a person, and even the criminal past of ancestors should not be an obstacle to studying one’s history.
Work Cited
Gates, Henry Louis, showman. Finding Your Roots: Criminal Kind. Public Broadcasting Service, 2020.