theory of documentary

1. THEORY OF
DOCUMENTARY
Emilia Bowles

2. The purpose of a documentary is to document and report with evidence, it has to be
based on fact. You can document using :
- Footage
- Interviews
- Reconstruction
- Observation
A documentary relies on people who have seen the evidence and uses a narrative
voice to anchor the audience. There are multiple documentaries on a variety of
subjects they resemble a film but it has to be factual.
A documentary can rely on archive footage of people giving factual accounts of life
e.g. WW2 documentaries will use archive footage and materials.
- Fly on the wall
- verite
- cinema verite
The purpose of a documentary

3. Documentaries are not popular with TV companies as they are
problematic. British documentaries are known to be hard hitting and
journalist as they look to report the truth.
Documentaries can use sensational image to entice audiences.
Tensions are arising as some people feel differently on how creative a
documentary should be affecting the authenticity. Film makers suggest
that all film is faked as it is impossible to capture raw footage.
Despite differences both film and documentary makers agree
documentaries should include:
- Observation
- Actual Footage
- Recorded images
Current affairs are half way between a documentary and the news,
current affairs are usually around 30 minutes long and explore weighter
issues e.g. dispatches.

4. DOCUMENTARY TYPES
Fully narrated documentary
• Direct address using voice over
• Narrator is voice of God
• Wildlife documentaries
Fly on the wall
• Drawn from direct and cinema
• Rely on observation
• Cameras left to record subject
• Audience comes to own conclusion
• Exposition left to subject
• Camera may affect behaviour
• Process of editing creates meaning

5. Mixed Documentary
• Mixture of elements
• Still has narration but is in the style of the documentary
• Journalist can speak to the camera
• Action is happening over this
Self reflexive
• Acknowledges camera
• Speaks directly to film maker
• Makes a point of drawing attention to film makers roles and reality
• Critics say takes focus of importance away front subject

6. Docu drama
• Meant to have happened
• Dramatized with element of fiction
• Exposition mixed with fiction
• Vividly recalls tragic events
• critics say they hope to represent truth but only ever deliver fiction
• Misleading and positively dangerous
Docu soap
• Phenomenon of relevant events
• Originated in Britain
• Many dispute whether is actually a documentary
• Eves dropping for exposition
• Low production cost

7. JOHN CORNER
“ What distinguishes documentaries is the portrayal of recorded sound and images of
documentary”
John Corner said that there are five central elements, these are:
Observation
 Most documentaries use observations, the subjects ignore the camera meaning the
camera meaning thee camera acts as a witness. However, participants may become
objects instead of subjects
Interviews
 TV documentaries rely on interviews. Interviews can be intercut with other elements
or can be uncut meaning the camera continuously films subjects
Dramatization
 All documentaries use dramatization. Programme makers explore both sides of the
argument to create drama. Some documentaries use dramatization to make the
audience sympathise with a person or event.

8. Mise – en – scene
 Carefully compares the setting e.g. where someone is positioned or
what they are wearing and also what the audience can and cannot
see.
Exposition
 This is the line of argument meaning what is the point/argument of
the documentary. It is made up of description and voice overs. The
exposition can be either; plain, direct, indirect or hidden. If a
documentary has no line of argument there is no point to the
documentary.

9. JOHN CORNER
Exposition is the line of argument in a documentary made up of description
and voice over.
John Corner said there are 4 types of expositions used in documentaries:
 Plain
 Direct
 Indirect
 Hidden
One of these expositions are always present, if there is no line of argument
then there is no point to the documentary, some documentaries have
stronger expositions than others
Technologies only record traces of physical reality.

10. JOHN GRIERSON
 coined the term documentary in 1926 and was a popular
documenter in the 1930’s
 He defined a documentary as the creative treatment of actuality
 Documentaries were made for film to educate audiences on different
subjects
His documentaries include:
 Housing problem
 Coal face
 Night mail
His documentaries had a sense of persuasion e.g. showed different
perspectives