Category Archives: Gasland (2010)

In the propaganda film, Gasland (“mockumentary”), director Josh Fox presents people in New York state lighting their water taps on fire to demonstrate the effects of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”).

So successful in presenting his bogus claims to an audience—largely ignorant about an extremely complex technology—that it created an environmental scare and even duped Governor Cuomo of New York, who banned drilling across the state.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2011, has made Fox a lot of money, and damaged perceptions about oil and gas drilling around the world. His efforts have also deprived small landowners and farmers in New York the extra income that could have helped them to remain viable during difficult economic times.

Gasland (2010), PROPAGANDA

Gasland: Russia and Others Promote the Runaway Bandwagon

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When settling down to watch a documentary film, I remind myself of two important things:

  1. Rarely does a documentary film tell the whole story.
  2. People believe what they want to believe.1

It was with this mindset that I watched Gasland (Fox, 2010), not just with an open mind, but also with an inquisitive one. Gasland presents an up-and-close narrative on the surmised ramifications of hydraulic fracturing, “fracking,” and how this well-stimulation technology negatively affects America’s habitat.

Lauded by film critics, Gasland received a nomination in 2011 for Best Documentary Feature by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. That recognition along with its 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes must please the film’s writer/director, Josh Fox, and those who support him.

However, before I enthusiastically jump on the anti-fracking bandwagon, my above-mentioned personal documentary-viewing guidelines require me to pause Continue reading Gasland: Russia and Others Promote the Runaway Bandwagon →