The Daily Think

Recently I was watching the MH370 “Documentary” on Netflix and it got me thinking, that more air-time and coverage was given to several “theories” than anything else. Yes, Netflix did a good job of covering the victims families and giving them proper respect, but interspersed with that was several journalists with their own versions of the fateful night in 2014. And therein lies the rub as media companies like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, NPR, Amazon and every major studio and the big 3 broadcasting companies race to get your attention with content through the use of documentaries or mini-series that get you hooked, and talking about it the next day. The fear with this proliferation is watered down journalism that could lead to wild speculative conspiracy theories being presented as fact.

Some examples of documentaries that have caused a little bit of controversy could start with Netflix Tiger King. Charismatic Joe Exotic was turned into a media star with his lifestyle on full display. Including his racism, bigotry and wild accusations aimed at the other protagonist of the series, Carole Baskin. One of the prominent storylines touted by Joe Exotic was the death of Carole’s ex-husband Don Lewis under mysterious circumstances. Joe kept pushing the narrative, and as America devoured the series, America pushed the narrative that Carole Baskin was a murderer. Fast forward a few short years to 2023, quietly and on the back page of the newspaper, Don Lewis, is alive and well.

Tiger King wasn’t the only example of a hypnotic narrative, from the producers of the show, other examples include:

“Super Size Me” (2004): This documentary, which follows filmmaker Morgan Spurlock as he eats only McDonald’s food for 30 days, presented a compelling argument about the dangers of fast food. However, some of the facts presented in the film have been disputed, including the claim that Spurlock gained 25 pounds in 30 days (he actually gained 17 pounds) and that his liver function had deteriorated (his doctors later said this was not the case).

“The Innocence Project” (2006): This documentary focused on the work of the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization that works to exonerate wrongfully convicted prisoners using DNA evidence. However, the film was criticized for presenting a biased view of the criminal justice system and for omitting important details about the cases it featured.

“What the Health” (2017): This documentary argues that a plant-based diet is the key to good health and that meat and dairy products are the root cause of many chronic diseases. However, many of the claims made in the film have been challenged by experts in the medical and nutritional fields, including the claim that eating one egg is as bad as smoking five cigarettes a day.

It’s important to note that not all documentaries contain inaccurate information, and many filmmakers work hard to present a balanced and accurate view of their subject matter. However, it’s always a good idea to approach any documentary with a critical eye and to seek out additional sources and perspectives to gain a more complete understanding of the topic at hand.