Media coursework

1. Media studies -
theory

2. -The purpose of a documentary is to document and to report with
evidence(particular topic of event has taken place)based on true
facts
-There are various forms of evidence that can be used like:
interviews, reconstructed events, footage and observations of
subjects
-Documentaries is based on observations from events that have
happened to some people and included voice overs to bring
meaning whilst they speak. Numerous documentaries document
events that may bear some resemblance to films
-They rely on people affected from the topic of the doc to help give
a better understanding to the audience
-Not all documentaries have actual footage – rely on people with
factual accounts on life, so documentaries have to reconstruct
what people who have lived through the experience have said
Documentaries

3. ⚫The 5 elements of documentaries is observation, interview, dramatization, mise-en-
scene and exposition
⚫Observation – most documentaries have sequences of observations which are either
seen or ignored in the camera – works as a witness. The do have the tendency to make
the people or the observation in the video more as objects rather than the subject
⚫Interview – interviews are essential to give a first hand account. These documentaries
rely on interviews whether seen or unseen questions are addressed. Participants replies
are dubbed over with sound to give further meaning – an interview can be intercut into
fragments or run interrupted
⚫Dramatization – All documentaries are used to dramatize the events by allowing the
drama to unfold naturally in front of the audience. Conflict can heighten the dramatic
conflict with the audience. However the portrayal of people and events have to be based
on facts
⚫Mise-en-scene – the setting of the documentary is carefully composed so it can
represent the meaning of the documentary – like how it is shot or seen, how people are
sat. Images help to advance the arguments debated within the documentary
⚫Exposition – The line of the argument – what's the point of the documentary. It helps to
represent what the documentary is trying to say to the audience. This can be portrayed
through a combination of description with voiceovers, that are usually plain, direct,
indirect or hidden
John Corner –
“What
distinguishes
documentaries is
the portrayal is the
recorded sounds
and images of
actuality”

4. “Technology
records only traces
of physical reality
of the physical
world. These
traces can be used
as evidence of
actuality or reality.
This evidence then
supports the
exposition”
• The exposition of a documentary is portrayed in 4 ways which
are: hidden, clear, direct and indirect – exposition is always
there
• Documentaries are problematic and is an art /reportage
John Corner

5. He created a new
phrase (coined) –
“Documentary” in
1926
• 3 films that Grierson made: Coal face(1935), Night mail and Housing
problems.
• All 3 films had an element of persuasion by showing the audience
another point of view that may make the audience feel sympathy
• The time period of 1920’s/30’s documentaries were made for cinema,
they were war time films used to boost morale/confidence
• Creative treatment of actuality(reality). Tension arise of how creative a
documentary can be – that may take the authenticity of the truth away
• Film makers argued that all film is faked and it’s hard to get a raw
authentic vision of it
• It’s impossible to capture all raw events so the reconstruction can
become inevitable and if all events are attempted to be captured, the
presence of the camera/crew can affect the reality of the situation.
John Grierson

6. “I think the truth is
what you actually
come away with at
the end of seeing a
film. I mean it’s
your truth that
you’re seeing.
Everybody who
makes a film is
putting their own
truth on screen –
Diane Tammes,
film maker
• Documentaries have to follow a narrative to make sense and doesn’t
need all recorded footage
• Creative development over years have broadened overtime – so it is
harder to agree/clarify what a document is. Some people say change
the term to Non fiction programmes
• Documentaries usually include factual interviews with people who
have been in that event
• Documentaries have footage of images/video included from reality or
lived experiences
• Verite is a form of documentary, that may be known as fly on the wall
which follows someone on a journey – cinema style
• Documentaries are problematic since ‘documentary is art and
documentary is reportage’
Documentaries

7. • Some documentaries are controversial like – The cook report
that is based on current affairs
• Current affairs are made quickly and is the midpoint between
documentaries and news. Documentaries investigate, whilst
the news reports. There usually around 30-60mins long
• Panorama, a prime time documentary tv show since it is very
popular contrasts how documentaries are perceived by tv
networks since docs usually create controversy – which may
offend advertisers
• British documentaries are all about reportage/journalism,
which could oppose the government – change the country
from right and wrong e.g. the war game
Documentaries

8. • The end point of a documentary leaves the answer open for
the audience to judge
• Sensationalism – is biased impressions from mass media that
stand out and have strong entertainment value
• Documentaries can use sensational footage to make a point
to the audience that usually contain dramatic music, voice
over to anchor meaning – forcing the audience to side with
one opinion
• Current affairs also cover significant social development or
weighty issues e.g Trevor McDonald takes advantage with
the use of sensationalised content so concerned tv ratings
are driven up
Documentaries

9. ‘It is critical that film
makers be rid of the
fantasy that
documentaries can be
unproblematic
representation of
reality and the truth
can be conveniently
dispensed and
received like Valium” -
Dennis O'Rourke, film
maker
• In documentaries the audience should question the truth
since documentaries can attract lies and counter claims
• The representation from a documentary implies a
transformed world – from the narrative to the framing or mise
en scene. The documentary may be heavily scripted and
shown in a specific way
• Since tv network advertisers maybe offended due to
controversial topics in documentaries – public services like
the BBC have more documentaries shown like BBC 4
• Complex relationships in documentaries are between the
producers, the people in the documentaries and the
audience. The public feel they have the right to know the
truth, the rights to individuals in the doc and the reaction from
the audience
• The general public interest in documentaries are sex,
violence, law and order.
• Violence in America is highest rated documentary in America
Documentaries

10. • Documentaries and current affairs focus on society’s victims
using humans as evidence to exploit or expose people lives
• Documentary producers make assumptions that the audience
want the right to know the truth – so audiences may play on
the fact that they would want to change or do something
about it e.g..Cathy come home (1966)
• Cathy come home was a documentary which is about
homelessness in the England. The impact of the film (light
public reaction) led a publicity campaign of the homeless to
form a charity called crisis in 1967
• Disnification – pressure is put on the broadcaster to have a
good success rating. So programs are softened and dumbed
down for better ratings
Documentaries

11. • Fly on the wall /verite documentary – Observational
documentaries, where cameras are left to record with no
commentary/narration – viewers come to a conclusion. The
camera may effect how a person behaves – the editing can
help create meaning. Exposition is handed over to the
subjects e.g. Police interceptors or Big brother
• Fully narrated documentary – Uses direct address(voice over)
for the visuals on screen are explained e.g. Planet Earth or
frozen planet
• Self reflective documentaries – the subject acknowledges the
camera, who directly speak to the director. The film makers
role draws attention from the constructed view of reality.
These documentaries can be confusing since it may be more
about the film maker rather than the subjects in the
documentary e.g. Ross kemp or Louis Theroux
Documentary types

12. • Mixed documentary – A mixture of interview, observing and
narration. The narration will link to the style and tone of the
documentary. These documentaries are very popular on TV
e.g. The jinx or The Neistat Brothers
• Docusoap – these documentaries have had a good success
over recent years – they show the daily lives of people like in
school, occupation or a location over a period of time.
Originating from the UK, there are usually conflict in these
shows since they eavesdrop into peoples lives – that includes
there opinion. The documentaries are very popular and have
a low production cost since it needs minimal crew with low
cast fees. They allow people to see places or jobs that the
audience wouldn’t have seen before e.g. Vet school or
Worlds strictest parents or Come fly with me
• Docudrama – these documentaries re-enact events that have
already happened and turn them into dramas. They may have
elements of fiction since they are based on truth. Critics say
they ‘Claim to represent the truth but only hope to deliver
fiction, at worst they mislead or positively damage. e.g Jimmy
Mcgovern hillsborough, Little boy blue or ghost hunters
Documentary types

13. • Documentaries heavily rely on narrative conventions
• They need an exposition and a story for the documentary
• Beginning – The central question for the documentary , that has
to intrigue the audience in some way either with dramatic
footage, quick paced interviews/conflict to help create drama
• Middle – the complication stage where the issue is examined in
human terms, the focus is strongly on the people and their
opinions. There's usually a blockage to the exposition from some
form of conflict like another point of view
• End – The exposition is fully apparent to the audience at the
resolution stage. So the exposition is cleared – audience should
understand the point of the documentary
Narrative conventions

14. • All documentaries have some sense of conflict – either the
people/individuals/beliefs/class – which develops over time,
maybe a confrontation on camera or sense of movement to
strengthen the sense of development/movement
• Music/sound effects – creates an atmosphere/feeling to the
audience which can create a emotional response
• Interviews are appeared as natural, including lighting to
create realism and authenticity in the natural
environment/setting
• Interviews in documentaries can create a new reality – the
producers reality from there vision, which may appear to the
audience as there own reality by the way the interviews
where constructed in editing – changing the original reality
• Editing like cut aways in interviews anchor meaning – to
illustrate a point/meaning to the audience. Documentaries
also usually avoid jump cuts
Narrative conventions