The document outlines conventions used in documentaries, including various techniques such as voiceovers, archival footage, interviews, and visual coding. It discusses how these conventions create realism and engage viewers by providing context and emotional depth. Additionally, it explores different documentary modes like observational, participatory, reflexive, and performative, emphasizing their unique attributes and implications for viewer interpretation.

1. By Michelle Asafu-Adjaye
CONVENTIONS OF
DOCUMENTARIES

2. Conventions
Voiceover:
Hand-held camera:
This is a commentary from
This is used to make the
the film maker, which is
documentary more realistic and also
spoken whilst filming
because its easier and cheaper to
follow the action with a hand-held
camera.
Two types of voiceovers
E.G: in March
of the
“Voice of authority” “Voice of God” penguins we
E.G In this A narrative Narration from a hear the
documentary from a narrator voice we can’t see. narrators
Origins of us we can see voice
the narrator is who represents throughout
present and the view of the but we never
talks to the documentary. see him.
audience

3. Archival footage: Interviews:
These are old images or film These are often with experts who
that show historical asked questions in relation to the
events, which the filmmaker topic. It gives a sense of realism and
cant film. E.G – In Michel makes the viewer assume that certain
Moore’s bowling for points made are valid.
columbine. Michael Moore uses
archival footage of
adverts advertising
toy guns.
In Michael Moore's
‘sicko’ he interviews a
doctor in the UK to
compare it to the us
health care system.
Talking Heads:
These are another form if interviews
Re-enactments:
but include members of the public These are a reconstruction of an event
filmed from the shoulders up. They that has previously occurred using
are featured talking about things in actors based on information about the
relation to the topic event. It gives the viewer a sense of
In this episode of the realism. E.G On crime watch they show
television documentary reconstructions of crimes that have
click the narrator asks happened to get a response from the
members of the public viewer.
their opinions of touch
screen gadgets

4. Visual coding:
Use of text an titles: This links to the idea of mise-en-scene.
This is a quick and cheap way of E.g. If a doctor was being interviewed
conveying information. they’d have to wear clothing
associated with being a doctor in order
to make it obvious to the viewer that
he/she is a doctor.
In the World War Two
Heroes documentary they
put the names and
professions of the
participants.
Exposition: Real footage:
This occurs at the beginning of the As documentaries are seen as
documentary and introduces the main non-fiction, the information
themes of the documentary. It creates presented has to be real.
the viewers first impression.
Filmmakers do this by selecting
sections of the documentary that will
catch the viewers attention.

5. Narrator addresses the audience directly with
a “voice of god” narration. Images are linked
The Expository mode
together to support ideas put forward in the
voiceover.
as technology advanced by the 1960s and
cameras became smaller and lighter, able to
document life in a less intrusive manner, there
The Observational Mode is less control required over lighting etc.,
leaving the social actors free to act and the
filmmaker free to record without interacting
with each other.
the encounter between film-maker and
subject is recorded, as the film-maker actively
engages with the situation they are
The Participatory Mode
documenting, asking questions of their
subjects, sharing experiences with them.
Heavily reliant on the honesty of witnesses
demonstrates consciousness of the process of
reading documentary, and engages actively
with the issues of realism and representation,
The Reflexive Mode
acknowledging the presence of the viewer
and the modality judgements they arrive at.
Corresponds to critical theory of the 1980s
acknowledges the emotional and subjective
aspects of documentary, and presents ideas
The Performative Mode as part of a context, having different
meanings for different people, often
autobiographical in nature

6. Bibliography
http://natasha-a2-media.blogspot.com/2010/09/introduction-to-dpcumentary.html
http://www.slideshare.net/crosswaysfederation/codes-and-conventions-of-documentary
http://www.documentarysite.com/?p=40