Documentary: World's Scariest Drug Post 2

            Although it sometimes may not seem so, humans are extremely desirable beings that, more often than not, follow strong instincts to do something regardless of danger. This applies both to the scopolamine use in World’s Scariest Drug as well as the way people communicate today. We are sociable beings that thrive upon communicating and interacting with others. We look to convenience and speed, two things that technology has granted us. This comes with the changes that modes of communication have gone through to give us precisely those.

            This documentary came from the production of VICE, which calls itself “The Definitive Guide to Enlightening Information”. The topic of the documentary was a dangerous and deadly drug. Although it is obvious that money was invested into this project, the fact that this documentary was a viral video made it possible for this to be put into, rather than rejected for a more “clean” or “noble” topic should it have been made a larger production movie or film. This use of viral videos that are free (all that’s needed is the internet) reflects societal “common media”. Throughout history, the medium through which most people communicated changed with increases in technology. Early history reveals the popularity of first oral exchange of tales and information, which then led to letters, television, and now the Internet through which email, videos, and especially social networking have come about.

            Society was reflected doubly throughout the documentary, both in information provided as well as the rhetorical devices used. As Duffy (the director and main person in the documentary) traveled around Bogota, Colombia, viewers noticed how cars constantly lined the streets, how quickly Duffy gathered information about “the Devil’s Breath”, and even how there was certainly no shortage of brothels in Bogota. The best phrase to describe this content would be “fast-paced”. This idea also manifests itself in the presentation of this material and its medium. As a viral video, anyone (who is above a certain age given the restrictions it has placed) can access the video with simply a click. Thus, society (and people’s) desire to have convenience and speed can be found in the way we communicate with one another.

            This new modern form of communication, through videos and easily accessed online media, have given individuals new options to add and change rhetorical devices that individuals have at their disposal. Through use of visual and video, Duffy incorporated many more elements into his “story”. The colors, music, and even identity protection of certain individuals in the film all demonstrated how it was EASIER to express his ideas through rhetoric. There also was little confusion or deviation. Compared to books and story-telling, which requires an active role for the listener or reader to create the world that is being described, videos can literally “show, not tell”. Which is a good thing, because if a picture is worth a thousand words, then what does a video make?

Documentary: The World's Scariest Drug Post 1

1. World’s Scariest Drug (Documentary Exclusive). Dir. Ryan Duffy. Perf. Ryan Duffy. VICE, 2012. Film.

The world of drugs has always been a disturbing place, but it seems that the “new” scopolamine has brought a new, frightening level to the possibility of drug-related crimes. Known as “The Devil’s Breath” in Colombia, scopolamine is a drug similar to rohypnol, also known as “rufies”, in that it removes memory of an incident after using drug, but more chillingly, the victim remains him/herself. The victim is still awake and conscious; however, he or she is subject to the whims of any suggestion without resistance. Ryan Duffy of VICE goes to Bogota, Colombia to learn more about “the Devil’s Breath” in the cocaine capital of the world.

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Duffy, the director and main person in the documentary, explores the dark and dangerous streets of Bogota, Colombia. His growing apprehension and suspicion of the horrors surrounding scopolamine manifest themselves in the myriad of rhetorical devices used.  To explain most of the conflicts, Duffy utilizes voiceover and describes Colombia and its troubles, referring to it as “the cocaine capital of the world”. Through actually a rather straightforward script, Duffy makes the story all the more chilling; his blunt assessments do not attempt to hide the stories surrounding scopolamine. He constantly foreshadows to the next event, keeping viewers engaged and further perturbed by this “Devil’s Breath”.

            The lighting of “World’s Scariest Drug” also plays a role in telling the story. Almost the entire documentary is shot in low light or near darkness; even the happier scenes such as eating in fancy restaurants is done by candlelight and large shadows. Use of limited lighting depicts a both literally and figuratively “shady” world surrounding scopolamine. The only exception to this is when Duffy and the rest of his team is inspecting and observing the scopolamine plant, the Borrachero Tree. Perhaps this rhetorical choice was made to depict the natural origins as seemingly harmless when in reality it is a dangerous plant, increasing the deception that is the theme of using scopolamine.

            The parts of the documentary that quite literally spoke the greatest volume were the victim (and chillingly user-against-others) testimonies. Several rhetorical devices all served to add to the potency of these portions and added to the message that scopolamine wasn’t merely a strong drug: it was equivalent to death and total loss of control. Captions were provided when the people spoke in their native Colombian. Camera angles often directed it so that the viewers were looking directly at the faces of those speaking, but the speakers were looking off to the side or someone else. They were always close-ups, but sometimes the faces were blurred for identity protection. All of this emphasized the logical conclusion that you don’t even want to mess with this drug. The native languages, having the speakers not look at the camera, and sometimes having blurred faces combine to create a sense of distance and lack of believability. Even Duffy describes the stories as “camp fire horror stories you’d hear when you were younger”. However, viewers suddenly and rather forcefully come to the conclusion that all of this is real when it dawns upon them that those are actual people who have lived and survived through the terrible experience. The manner (either fearful, cold-blooded, or simply still confused) in which the recorded Colombians described their experiences with the drug leave no room for doubt: scopolamine is equivalent to death: if not physical, then a dying of emotional and mental capabilities.