2. A Post Modern assessment of
Representation through
Documentary
• Documentaries, like photography, must be considered a
representational medium. They signify the truth; yet the truth is not as
innocent as it may seem.
• Documentaries portray a version of the truth, presented by the creator
directly to the viewer. The viewer is drawn into a reality that seemingly
does not need questioning, and the viewer experiences co presence in
being in the now, looking at the image, yet also there, looking at what
the image represents.
• The lens of the camera is in effect the eye of the viewer, and they are
in effect there.
3. Applying this to The Art of
Artistry
• We tried to allow our viewers to determine their own perception
of creativity through ensuring that our viewers feel as though
they are personally experiencing the events through the
camera lens. The interviews give a very personal insight into
the expert’s view points, and we achieved this with particular
success as we kept the shots simple, and the surroundings
objects plain. Therefore, we attempted to avoid channeling the
audience to our own perception, and instead aided them to
create their own.
• Despite this, it is an unavoidable fact that we presented our
own version of the ‘truth’ and we hope that the audience can
make the distinction between our perception of reality and
reality. This will be explored further in question 3, determining
audience feedback and reaction.
4. Theory cont.
• Despite their presentation, documentaries are not
an objective but a subjective device, a medium
that marshall[s] systems of representation to
encourage a point of view abut something.
• Bauldrillard argues that a documentary is a
representation of what reality once was, and not
what it is. Furthermore it is made in the eyes of
the creator.
5. Applying this
• The subjectivity comes from who we chose to interview, and
therefore this represents our perceptions about what a creative job
entails. However, we successfully interviewed a range of people
who may not have a creative job, yet have an educated view about
what creativity is. To contrast this, we also included two artists who
do have a conventional creative involvement in their lifestyle. This
is a success for us, however we could have made it clearer within
the documentary that we wish to challenge audience perceptions of
creative jobs.
6. Creativity Theory
• Everyone has a differing opinion on creativity, and
has a different interpretation of what it means.
• David Gauntlett says ‘making is connecting’
• Jones says ‘a process needed for problem solving’
• Abra interprets that creativity is ‘ the achieving of
tangible products such as works of art’
7. So… How did we do?
• In making our production we have connected with people, the viewers,
and also we have been able to interact with them to gauge audience
reception
• As Jones argues, our production did act as a process for problem
solving – we wished to discover what creativity can mean and the
differing ways in which it can be used
• We also contested the theory that creativity is the making of a tangible
product, our product in itself is a creative piece of art, yet it cannot be
touched or felt. Therefore, we have demonstrated that creativity can be
viewed in different ways – we would certainly argue that our production
has had a lot of creative and unique input! which it can be used in
life.
