Bill Nichols identified six modes of documentary: poetic, expository, observational, participatory, reflexive, and performative. Each mode has distinct characteristics. The poetic mode uses abstract expression and emotion with no clear beginning, middle, or end. The expository mode directs the audience through narration and voiceovers. The observational mode observes events as they occur with no commentary. The participatory mode involves the filmmaker interacting directly with subjects. The reflexive mode acknowledges the filmmaking process. And the performative mode addresses the audience directly and acknowledges different perspectives.

1. By Amarjit Singh

2. Bill Nichols decided that their were six modes of
Documentary. They were:
• Poetic mode
• Expository mode
• Observational mode
• Participatory mode
• Reflexive mode
• Performative mode

3. • Started in 1920’s
• There is no beginning, middle or
end in this mode
• It focuses on abstract, expression
and emotion and is subjective
• documentary is not in a specific
order and there's no rhythm to it.

4. Time - A Poetic Documentary

5. • Often referred to as “voice of god” this
mode directs the audience through
narration and is associated with the 1920’s
and 1930’s
• Often includes images and archive footage
over a voice over
• Involves the audience into the subject of
the documentary and often develops an
argument as the documentary progresses.

6. Belfast Northern Ireland - Danny Dyer's Deadliest
Men

7. • Started in 1960’s and observes the world as it
happens
• Often have no voice-over commentary,
music or interviews
• Participates in the documentary behave as
if no filmmakers or camera are there
• Camera is small, light and often hidden
• Example include Big Brother.

8. Educating The East End | Season 1 Episode 1

9. • This is when the encounter between the
film-maker and the subject is recorded, as
the film-maker actively engages with the
situation as they are documenting, while
asking questions and sharing experiences
• Gives the audience a sense of what it is like
for the film maker to be in a given situation
• Often includes interviews and voice overs.

10. Danny Dyer’s deadliest men

11. • This demonstrates consciousness of the
progress or reading documentary
• Engages actively with the issue,
acknowledges the presence of the viewer
and the modality judgements
• Viewer has more than one judgement
• Speaks about the historical world and about
the problems and issues of representing it.

12. The Road

13. • This is when the documentary acknowledges
the emotional and subjective aspects of
documentary and presents ideas as part of a
context, having different meanings for
different people, often autobiographical in
nature
• Often addresses the audience and can be
educational and informative
• Audience respond in an emotional way and
allows them to gain more understanding of
the event.

14. Super size me