Dialogue from Milgram
Milgram's understanding on life
“Life can only be understood backwards, but can be lived forwards”
Milgram is asking a 'teacher' questions about why he carried out the experiment
“I thought the experiment depended on me, and ain't nobody told me to stop” - Teacher/subject No.3
Reminding the audience about the Nazis and the reason for the experiment.
Fourth wall break and jarring background (elephant in the room)
To understand the setting of the scene, and make it clear what actually is the experiment.
Over the shoulder shot of Stanley Milgram looking through the one way mirror.
Verbal cue that subjects are obeying despite their values and thoughts on the matter.
No soundtrack in the experiment scenes, aside from one ominous tone that happens when subjects are about to conform
You can understand why people do things, you can’t really change that they do them
“Human nature can be studied but not escaped. Especially your own” - Milgram
First authoritative line that expresses the importance of the experiment
“It is important that you follow the procedure exactly” - Mr Williams
Dialogue followed by Brechtian technique- gives us time to ponder on the information/question
Dialogue (“How do civilised human beings participate in destructive, inhumane acts?”), followed by interrupting actions (brechtian technique)
Subjects reflecting on their part of the experiment- we reflect on ourselves and our own impulses and purposes.
Motif (repetition) of mirrors and reflection throughout the whole film
Emphasises that psychologists thought that people would resist conforming
“What happened in the lab was discovered not planned” - Milgram
The agentic state and how we work in it
“In the agentic state the individual finds themself an instrument in carrying out orders.” - Milgram
Shows that some people do not obey and will not conform or follow the orders the authority figure gave them
Close up of the Dutch man saying “why don’t I have a choice”.
To remind us that the trial was real and this person committed heinous acts.
Brechtian technique of including the real footage of the Eichmann Trial.
Shows the beginning of the power imbalance between the teacher and learner.
Mid-shot of “learner” being strapped into the shock machine, and “teacher” watching.
To show there are other conformity experiments that are done- This experiment feels less confronting.
Wide shot of the Asch experiment (conformity experiment) taking place
Sometimes situations are more powerful than others and we have to act accordingly.
“The power of the situation, overwhelmed your personal power” - Milgram
Line from the New York Review- taken out of context.
“Many distraught over cruelty, but did not stop” - Sasha
Reinforces to the audience that it all actually happened and it was real- not just a film event.
Brechtian technique of green screen and very obvious fake backgrounds and driving when going to Asch’s house.
Milgram cannot escape the experiment- it is all he is really known for.
Motif of Yale hallways.
Still obeying the previous authority regardless of the learner- looking for reassurance.
Close up of the teacher/subject No.1. Looking back to Mr Williams because he hears the learner crying out from the electric shocks.
Pondering the results of the experiment, encourages us to think about them
“Why do the vast majority push all the way to the final switch? Why is the Dutch man’s defiance an anomaly instead of the norm?”- Milgram
Echoing the statements from the teachers in the experiment- shifting the blame to his superiors
“I never did anything great or small without express instruction from my superiors” - Eichmann
Milgram is asking if the audience thinks he is a fool or if he is a wise man through this technique
Brechtian technique of breaking into song (Some Enchanted Evening - musical which also uses brechtian techniques)
Showing the experiment is effective with a range of different people
Mise en scene: Edits of different subjects carrying out the experiment (races, backgrounds etc)