Documentaries employ several conventions to guide audience perspective and present a subjective view of events as objective facts. Voiceovers provide authoritative commentary to steer thinking, while real footage and post-production editing construct a fabricated representation rather than a purely factual one. Documentaries also use archive media and interviews with experts to strengthen arguments and convince audiences of films' intended representations and functions. On-screen text serves to quickly convey information through socially accepted norms without question.

1. Conventions of Documentaries

2. Voiceover
Voiceovers are conventionally authoritative ,
encouraging the audience to follow a certain
train of thought, usually backed up with
specialist knowledge.

3. ‘Real’ Footage
Documentary is essentially seen as ‘no fiction’
however, it still provides a subjective representation
like any other form of media.
Documentary films often undergo a great deal of
effort in order to capture footage which is ‘real’ and
convince the audience that it is unaltered.
Nonetheless, the process of post production editing
and sequencing of events inevitably creates a
fabricated representation offering on view of the
subject matter.

4. Archive footage/stills
To emphasise the authenticity of the
documentary and provide additional evidence
provided by external sources, strengthening the
films voice and argument, making it more
effective in achieving its function.

5. Interviews with field specialists
Provides similar effect as archival footage by
offering an ‘expert’ second opinion on the
subject matter. Makes the argument more
convincing and aids the film in effectively
achieving its function.

6. Text/Titles
The use of lexis on screen to anchor and label
images in terms of preconceived social norms
are often used as they are frequently accepted
by the audience without question. They serve as
an effective means of quickly conveying
information and aid in generating the directors
desired representation.