Exploring the different purposes of documentary's

1. POST 2
The purpose of a
documentary
By Olivia Thorpe

2. What is a documentary's purpose?
A documentary's
purpose
To investigate
To inform,
educate and
entertain
To make an
argument or
a point
To be
truthful and
factual
To explore the
different types of
styles of
documentaries
To state
fact not
fiction
For example, an example
of a documentary which
purposes is to investigate
is the 9/11 conspiracy. This
looks and provides more
detail about a certain topic.
https://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=rh
TBOEBam3I
All documentary's have
purpose to provide information
to the viewers and develop their
knowledge on the certain topic.
Also, many documentary’s
entertain the viewers, for
example educating Yorkshire
was a documentary which was
fun for the viewers to watch, but
still informative.
https://www.
youtube.co
m/watch?v=
YDZr1igQdg
Q
Ensure that all
information used
not made up or
a lie.
State only the truth
trying to use real
statics around my
chosen topic.
Most
documentary's are
biased in some
way or another.
They also all make
a clear argument
and point and
throughout the
documentary this
usually makes
the viewers be more
favourable to their point. For
example, Benefit Street made
many people living inside the
UK outraged and assumed
that everybody on benefits
was not willing to work.
https://www.
youtube.co
m/watch?v=
XkKJQF1x
SJU
Different
documentary's explore
different things. There
are many different
styles and some are
more informative than
others.

3. So, what is the purpose of a
documentary?
The purpose of a documentary varies for each filmmaker as they
all have different reasoning and goals to achieve from their
personal documentary. Many filmmakers aim to change society as
they bring alight a certain topic which is relevant and is in need of
notice. They hope that their documentary will raise the urge for
change which then they hope that action will be taken from the
important point they have made during their documentary. Other
filmmakers just set out with the intention that their documentary is
to entertain the viewers, this is known as human interest story's
which are becoming much more increasingly popular. Others just
simply inform us about a certain topic developing facts that we
didn’t know and educate us on the topic which we are interested in.
Documentary's are meant to be relatable and make us indulge in
the viewing.

4. What have I learnt?
I have learnt this through
researching the different
purposes of documentary's
and also using my own and
knowledge which was said in
the class. I have learnt that all
documentary's have different
purposes but all have similar
objectives to inform us,
entertain us and provide us
with facts not fiction. I have
learnt this so that it will enable
me to use it in my own
documentary and highlights
the importance of having a
clear purpose when producing
my own.
I will use this information in my
own documentary as I will
always have in mind the
purpose of my documentary
when we have clearly set out
the aim. I will make sure that
all work being put in is relevant
and meets the purpose whilst
make it informative and
entertaining at the same time.