2. • Central to documentaries is the focus on actual
people, events, questions in a social context,
placing the audience in a position to form an
opinion about who or what we are seeing.
• The term documentary was coined by John
Grierson in 1926
• The purpose of a documentary is to document
something that has actually happened, it can be
shown using actual footage or reconstruction. It
can use a voice over or a narration, to anchor the
meaning or rely on the participants themselves
with perhaps an occasional interjection by the
narrator.
3. Features
According to John Corner of the University Of Liverpool there are five central
elements of a documentary, these are:
Observation (fly on the wall)
•The programme makers are observing the action
•The camera is ignored by the people taking part- unseen observation puts the
audience into a role of witness
•There is indirect address to the audience
Interview
•Can be used to make a contrast with the observation sequences. The
interviewer is either seen or unseen, The interviewee addresses the interviewer
not the audience. Images can be dubbed over the speakers replies in support of
what has been said, interviews can be constructed in two ways:
•Run fully
•Segments of interview with cuts
4. Features
Dramatisation
Although documentaries use a sense of drama, this feature is specifically used to portray
people and events the film maker could not gain access to. These sequences are based
on fact
Mis en scene
What the director or producers put into the frame
For example, props or clothing
Exposition
The line of argument in a documentary
5. Types of Documentaries
Fully narated
Direct address, use of an off screen voice over to convey the exposition. The voice
over helps make sense of the visuals and dominates their meaning. The narrator gives
authority about the topic. Critics call it the “voice of god”
Fly on the wall
Rely on observation. No commentary or narration to advance the arguments. The
cameras are left to record subjects without interference views and narration to reach
their conclusions
Mixed
Uses a combination of interviews, observations and narration to further the
arguments, narration is often in the frame.
Self reflexive
The subjects of a documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and speak to
the film maker. This style makes a point of drawing attention to the film makers in
constructing their view of reality.
Docudrama
A re-enactment of events as they are supposed to have happened in this style the
elements of the arguments are combined with the fictional narrative resulting in the
story being based on fact.
Docusoap
A phenomenon of recent years which follows the daily lives of individuals with
designated jobs
