Introduction+&+Analysis

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**Introduction **
====Ancient Aliens is a series on The History Channel that explores the science of ancient astronaut theory in order to show possible connections between humanity and extraterrestrial life. In this particular episode entitled Gods or Aliens, researchers argue that aliens were described in ancient myths of gods from various cultures across the globe. The documentary moves through analyses of Greek myths, Norse myths, Mahabharata myths, ancient archaeology and architecture, Hebrew writings, and biblical descriptions. It develops its argument from a discussion of the story of Troy being proved, and then moving to an analysis of Greek, Roman, and Norse gods with similarities. These cultural connections are meant to show validity to the connections they are making across cultures around the globe.We will provide an analysis of the short documentary by evaluating the editorial choices of the audio, visuals, and graphics shown, while synthesizing the effects of the editorial choices have on viewers‘ understanding of the documentary.The learning experience will focus on select scenes to gauge students’ comprehension and apply their interpretations to the learning activities. Overall each lesson cohesively work together for students to review the text multiple times, identify particular concepts, and apply primary and secondary sources to support their interpretation. The activities are designed for students to utilize evidence to counterargue the documentary's perspective. ====

**Analysis **
====The introduction of Aliens or Gods is introduced by two-dimensional images of ancient gods. There are snapshots of paintings that triggers the viewers to suspend belief. The narrator which imitates this “voice of God” tone pose various questions to the viewers to evoke curiosity. In addition to, the special effects (0:22-0:24) are sounds of thunder and the effect of smoke appearing on the screen engages the viewer to imagine traveling back in time. After the narrator sets the tone of the nonfiction film, the film transitions (0:40-0:43), with a background that mimics space and still images are manipulated to float in space and the text displays the title of the film. This particular scene (1:25) imitates the introduction of the popular series Twilight Zone. The introduction prepares the viewers that their beliefs will be challenged ====

====Almost the first sound you hear at the onset of this film is that of the 2narrator. He opens the film with names used as single word sentences. This list of names is followed by simple statements, question and interviews by scholars strategically interwoven in a way designed to encourage the viewer to consider concepts usually associated with sci-fi stories as facts. The narration and interviews are all presented in a serious manner which is designed to make the viewer consider that in fact it is logical to conclude that aliens began visiting the earth thousands of years ago and have shaped the myths, beliefs, culture and technology of several ancient civilizations. ====

====The narration follows a pattern of statement, interview question. The narration seems to be structured this way in an effort to support the attempt to make the main claim of the documentary-aliens have visited earth and shaped the myths of ancient culture- by connecting what may seem like outlandish statement with facts presented by scholars. ====

====Questions are used in this documentary repeatedly to hook the viewer and help them consider unconventional theories as fact. The questions are used to make what has historically been popularly regarded as an unusual idea, alien visitations, seem plausible. Each question is answered by either the narrator or in an interview by a scholar. The narrator ends the opening scene with a question which serves as the thesis of the entire document. ====

====Narrator: Did ancient aliens really help to shape our history? And were the gods of our ancestors actually visitors from other worlds? ====

====This pattern of making statements, scholars validating the statement, questions, and answers is repeated throughout the documentary helping to make a logical appeal to the viewer. ====

====The vocabulary of the documentary is also carefully chosen to support the logic appeal being made. When the narrator refers to scholars who present evidence of the presence of aliens in human history, they are referred to as ancient astronaut theorist or experts. The use of these works encourages the viewer to see these scholars as legitimate thinkers and not crazy cooks with wild imaginations. When the narrator speaks of the possibility of aliens mating with humans the offspring is regularly described as hybrid, Star child-children born of women and alien unions. These terms come across as neutral and create moments where the viewer is free from distracting charged words and has more room to consider possibility that aliens did in fact produce genetic hybrids with humans. ====

====Sound often acts as a character in this documentary. It is used to help set scary moods with crashing and clanking bangs. When the narrator describes Thor’s hammer or Zeus’s lightning bolt (0:18), the audience can hear thunder in the background. These non -diegetic sounds reoccur throughout the film and are used to highlight points and create various moods throughout the film. ====

====The films Starts with a loud crashing and transitions into “spooky” music. This music and non-diegenic sound remains in continuous play throughout the entire film. Both music and sound tend to stop when an expert is speaking but it is common for the music to play in the background of the narrated portions of the film. The sound and music choices work to provide the movie with and “other world” kind of quality which helps to support the extraterrestrial elements of the movie. ====

====In addition to the visuals and sound provided graphics and are used throughout. Graphics are defined as computer generated visuals with the use of special effects. The graphics used throughout adds realism and provides entertainment for the viewers. The film is well orchestrated to appeal to logic. ====

====in 1:15-1:18 the graphics are blurred and fades intoanother graphic shows a gradual blend of the images to distort the viewers perception. At 1:28 the introduction to the title of the series and episode takes the viewer into a Twilight Zone experience. The images float and glide through a dark space which sets the tone for suspension of belief. ====

====At 2:3-02:32 ,the book Illiad is highlighted with a glowing essence aroundit. The special effects emphasie the significance of the book and its centrality to the theme of the film. ====

====The location of various historical sites are shown in a panaramic vie; at (4:10-4:14) the renowned sites Necroolis, Delphi, panthenon, and the Templse of Apollo, are gradually transitioned to allow the viewer time to observe the pictures and even emphasis the significance of these locations. ====

====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At 5:17 the rise of smoke over the images and flashing of light provide viewers with mysticism and plays along with the theme of extraterrestial activity on Earth. The special effects shown throughout the film provides a two-dimensional effect on the images and adds depth and logical appeal to the film's premise. The sounds, visuals, graphics, and special effects sculpt the imagination of the viewers. ====