Chicago 10- Postmodern Documentary

“Chicago 10” was a documentary that explored the true story of the 1968 riots at the Democratic National Convention, and the ensuing trials of protest leaders. It was a snapshot of one of the most important times in America’s history, and gave viewers a chance to see some of the feelings and events that changed the country as it moved towards the end of the 20th century. The country was going through a transitional period, and there were intense feelings on both sides of the civil rights and Vietnam War debates. “Chicago 10” captures the apex of the conflict between the old way of thinking and the new way, and the explosion of feelings at the time.

This documentary included many features that classify it as Postmodern and gave it a very current feel. Animated characters in the reenacted scenes was something that, while distracting at first, ended up working because of the true events of the story. The animation was also a way for the director to connect with younger viewers who only saw the events of the late 60’s in abstract terms. Mixing in music from the 21st century along with the music of the time was another way to bridge the gap between the 1960’s and the 2000’s. The film was able to put events that seemed far in the past and show how the themes and ideas were still relevant 4o years later.

One of the more polarizing features of the film was the use of animation throughout. The director chose to use it in most scenes, and many important events were shown with animated characters reenacting them. The animated characters was an unexpected curveball that was somewhat distracting early on, but it was an artistic statement. The animated courtroom scenes captured the fantastical nature of the trial, as men were being threatened with serious jail time for, as they put it, their “state of mind.” For viewers who were able to get used to the use of animated characters, it became a great way to receive the story.