The document outlines six styles or modes of documentary film as developed by theorist Bill Nichols: poetic, observational, reflexive, expository, participatory, and performative. Each style is defined by its particular traits, conventions used, and relationship to subject matter. For example, a poetic documentary emphasizes personal expression through techniques like music and camera work, while an observational documentary aims to be a neutral, fly-on-the-wall perspective.

1. Style of Documentary
Daniel Williams

2. Origin
The styles of documentary or documentary modes were
developed by American theorist Bill Nichols.
The concept was created as he wanted to distinguish the
particular traits and different conventions used in
documentaries.
The 6 types are:
• Poetic • Participatory
• Expository • Reflexive
• Observational • Performative

3. Poetic Documentary
(subjective, artistic
expression)
 A documentary that has a topic which is personal to the people
involved, usually the presenter and interviewees.
 It emphasizes some aspects of the person’s life and presents
these via music, camera shots and angles and the editing. It can
also be quite artistic in the way it is presented.
 Music is key as it develops the mood and tone of the story being
told including the messages and values hidden within.
Man With A Movie Camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk_u_8ajoo0

4. Observational Documentary
(Fly on the wall)
 A documentary where the filmmaker is a neutral observer. (from
the outside looking in)
 Life is lived and observed. It can then be seen how people/animals
react in different situations.
 The filmmaker is normally out of shot so they cannot influence
what is happening.
 Nothing is rehearsed or staged, this means the camera crew have
to rush around, resulting in poor shaky looking footage.
 Usually wildlife documentaries. (David Attenborough)
Oasis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_9sfXIhe9U

5. Reflexive Documentary
(awareness of the process)
 A documentary where the audience engages with the
content of the documentary as it happens, they
acknowledge the issues of realism and representation and
modality judge them when they arrive.
 It shows the constructive nature of the documentary
showing not necessarily the truth, but a reconstruction. (‘a’
truth, not ‘the’ truth).
 The audience are made aware of the process throughout
and the audience are made aware of the editing, sound and
recordings.
Human Trafficking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4237pS55h4

6. Expository Documentary
(voice of god)
 Documentaries in this style are usually non-fiction films.
There is direct access to the audience. There are social
issues assembled into an argumentative frame with a
narration voice-over emphasizing what is happening
with argumentative logic.
 A good example of this is An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
Full Film: http://vimeo.com/16335777

7. Participatory Documentary
 A participatory documentary is where the events and
situations presented are influenced and altered by the
presence of the filmmaker.
 A brilliant example of this is Supersize Me (2004)
 Full Film:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-
eRXuuH9AI

8. Performative Documentary
 A performative documentary acknowledges the
emotional and subjective aspects of documentary and
presents ideas as a part of a context having different
meanings for different people and are often
autobiographical in nature.
 Tongues United (1990)
 http://www.pbs.org/pov/tonguesuntied/#.UO7fkaVqK0s