Eclipse of Reason
Encyclopedia
Eclipse of Reason is a 1987 documentary
video about abortion
directed, filmed, and narrated by Dr. Bernard Nathanson
, with an introduction by Charlton Heston
. Eclipse of Reason is a follow up to Nathanson’s first film The Silent Scream
. The film is perhaps most known for its controversial depiction of a late-term abortion
.
The subject matter of this film focuses more on the moral implications of abortion. It served as Nathanson’s call to the women of the world to end the practice of abortion. This film, as well as The Silent Scream, was instrumental in the Right to Life Committee's garnering the attention of the United States public regarding the issue of abortion.
Eclipse of Reason represented the argument that the fetus
is human, and therefore abortion is murder
, a belief in line with the pro-life movement.
The film also serves to combat critics to The Silent Scream
who argue that, although Nathanson claimed the film relied only on imagery and not pejorative speech, the film was heavily reliant on upon the language of the narrator. Therefore, Eclipse of Reason delivers the same message that abortion is murder, with similar imagery as its predecessor The Silent Scream
; however, to avoid the previous appropriation of language over imagery Eclipse of Reason asks it viewers to consider reason rather than using emotionally charged narration.
. The film focuses on the limbs of the fetus
while in the womb then proceeds to show the abortion in graphic detail. While the fetus in Nathanson’s previous film
was little more than a black and white pulsating image, the fetus in Eclipse of Reason was shown vividly in full color.
Different women who have had abortions and suffered harmful effects from the procedure give testimony later in the film.
Nathanson concludes Eclipse of Reason with a montage of photographs that depicts his idea of opposing worlds, one filled with abortions and one without abortions. He argues that we cannot achieve a “World of Reason” without completely eliminating abortions.
Eclipse of Reason is most heavily criticized for its idealization
of the “World of Reason” and for creating a dichotomy
that may not exist in between the two hypothetical worlds. Nathanson creates a world of good (pro-life
) versus evil (pro-choice
), which directly opposes his intention of creating a film devoid of any sort of emotionally charged language.
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
video about abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
directed, filmed, and narrated by Dr. Bernard Nathanson
Bernard Nathanson
Bernard N. Nathanson was an American medical doctor from New York who helped to found the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws, but later became a pro-life activist.-Early life and education:...
, with an introduction by Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
. Eclipse of Reason is a follow up to Nathanson’s first film The Silent Scream
The Silent Scream
The Silent Scream is a 1984 anti-abortion documentary video directed and narrated by Bernard Nathanson, an obstetrician, NARAL Pro-Choice America founder, and abortion provider turned pro-life activist, and produced in partnership with the National Right to Life Committee. The film depicts the...
. The film is perhaps most known for its controversial depiction of a late-term abortion
Late-term abortion
Late termination of pregnancy or late-term abortions are abortions which are performed during a later stage of pregnancy. Late-term abortions are more controversial than abortion in general because the fetus is more developed and sometimes viable.-Definition:A late-term abortion often refers to an...
.
The subject matter of this film focuses more on the moral implications of abortion. It served as Nathanson’s call to the women of the world to end the practice of abortion. This film, as well as The Silent Scream, was instrumental in the Right to Life Committee's garnering the attention of the United States public regarding the issue of abortion.
Eclipse of Reason represented the argument that the fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
is human, and therefore abortion is murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, a belief in line with the pro-life movement.
The film also serves to combat critics to The Silent Scream
The Silent Scream
The Silent Scream is a 1984 anti-abortion documentary video directed and narrated by Bernard Nathanson, an obstetrician, NARAL Pro-Choice America founder, and abortion provider turned pro-life activist, and produced in partnership with the National Right to Life Committee. The film depicts the...
who argue that, although Nathanson claimed the film relied only on imagery and not pejorative speech, the film was heavily reliant on upon the language of the narrator. Therefore, Eclipse of Reason delivers the same message that abortion is murder, with similar imagery as its predecessor The Silent Scream
The Silent Scream
The Silent Scream is a 1984 anti-abortion documentary video directed and narrated by Bernard Nathanson, an obstetrician, NARAL Pro-Choice America founder, and abortion provider turned pro-life activist, and produced in partnership with the National Right to Life Committee. The film depicts the...
; however, to avoid the previous appropriation of language over imagery Eclipse of Reason asks it viewers to consider reason rather than using emotionally charged narration.
Overview
Eclipse of Reason shows a late term abortion occurring sometime after the fourth month of pregnancyPregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
. The film focuses on the limbs of the fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
while in the womb then proceeds to show the abortion in graphic detail. While the fetus in Nathanson’s previous film
The Silent Scream
The Silent Scream is a 1984 anti-abortion documentary video directed and narrated by Bernard Nathanson, an obstetrician, NARAL Pro-Choice America founder, and abortion provider turned pro-life activist, and produced in partnership with the National Right to Life Committee. The film depicts the...
was little more than a black and white pulsating image, the fetus in Eclipse of Reason was shown vividly in full color.
Different women who have had abortions and suffered harmful effects from the procedure give testimony later in the film.
Nathanson concludes Eclipse of Reason with a montage of photographs that depicts his idea of opposing worlds, one filled with abortions and one without abortions. He argues that we cannot achieve a “World of Reason” without completely eliminating abortions.
Critical reception
According to Newsweek, the film is "harder for critics to dismiss as misleading."Eclipse of Reason is most heavily criticized for its idealization
Idealization
Idealization is the process by which scientific models assume facts about the phenomenon being modeled that are strictly false. Often these assumptions are used to make models easier to understand or solve. Many times idealizations do not harm the predictive accuracy of the model for one reason or...
of the “World of Reason” and for creating a dichotomy
Dichotomy
A dichotomy is any splitting of a whole into exactly two non-overlapping parts, meaning it is a procedure in which a whole is divided into two parts...
that may not exist in between the two hypothetical worlds. Nathanson creates a world of good (pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
) versus evil (pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
), which directly opposes his intention of creating a film devoid of any sort of emotionally charged language.