Documentary Types
Documentary Types
documentaries
“Documentaries are all methods of recording on celluloid
any aspect of reality interpreted either by sincere and
justifiable reconstruction, so as to appeal either to reason
or emotion, for the purpose of stimulating the desire for,
and the widening of human knowledge and understanding,
and of truthfully posing problems and their solutions in the
spheres of economics, culture, and human relations.”
Viewpoints
John Grierson
Types and
The documentary styles
is the offilm
branch of
documentaries
production which goes to the actual and
photographs it and edits it and shapes it.
It attempts to give form and pattern to
the complex of direct observation.
Viewpoints
Erik Barnouw
Types and styles of
Documentary cannot be considered “the
truth” butdocumentaries
rather the evidence or the
testimony of a fact or situation, within the
complex historical process.
Viewpoints
Michael Renov
Types and styles of
Sees the documentary as “the more or less artful
documentaries
reshaping of the historical world”
It records,
reveals or preserves;
persuades or promotes;
analyzes or interrogates;
and expresses.
Viewpoints
Bill Nichols
the Reflexive
the Poetic
the Performative
Modes of Documentaries
documentaries
illustrating an argument using images.
the Expository
Types and styles of
Directly address issues in the historical world
*overly didactic
documentaries
the Observational
Observes things as they happen
*lack of history, context
the Participatory
Interview or Interact with subjects
*excessive faith in witnesses naive history too intrusive
Documentary Modes:
Characteristics and Deficiencies
the Reflexive
Types and styles of
Questions documentary form, defamiliarize the other modes
*too abstract, loses sight of actual issues
the Performative
Stresses subjective aspects
*loss of emphasis on objectivity; excessive use of style.
Types and styles of
Documentary is purposive; it is
documentaries
intended to achieve something in
addition to entertaining audiences
and making money.
William Rothman