This documentary analyzes the documentary "The Propaganda Game" which examines politics, socialism, totalitarianism and propaganda in North Korea. It uses various filmmaking techniques like interviews, footage of Pyongyang and military uniforms to convey information about North Korea while acknowledging the filmmaker's presence. The documentary leaves some questions unanswered due to the limited information and ongoing issues between North Korea and the US.

1. Documentary
analysis of ‘The
Propaganda Game’

2. TYPE OF DOCUMENTARY
• ‘The Propaganda Game’ is a self reflexive documentary.
This is because the film maker acknowledges their
presence in front of the camera and provides a narrative
to the documentary.

3. THEMES
• Politics
• Socialism
• Totalitarianism
• Propaganda
• Government
• Weapons
• Military

4. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
• The documentary was left open because the predicaments that were
ongoing throughout the documentary (such as the feud between
North Korea and the USA) are still ongoing today. Also the lack of
information that the western world and media has on the DPRK is
still extremely limited. Towards the end of the documentary the film
maker expressed his frustration at questions that were left
unanswered.

5. CAMERA WORK
• The camerawork is imperative as it is relevant to the
documentary. For example, a mid shot could be used to
demonstrate what people are wearing. This gives the
viewer confidence as someone in a military uniform
demonstrates authority and intelligence, thus making the
audience feel that the speaker is reliable. Suits
demonstrate a businesslike nature, thus presenting North
Korea as being a professional country. . A long shot of an
interview conducted on the street reinforces average
everyday people and their opinions, therefore reflecting
the people of North Korea’s views and feelings.

6. MISE-EN-SCENE
The mise-en-scene is largely dominated by the idyllic
sights of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. However
this is the only part of the DPRK that we can observe
within the documentary, which could make the
information we receive less reliable. The audience does
not have the chance to view whether the impressive living
and occupational standards of Pyongyang are maintained
throughout the rest of North Korea. The majority of North
Korean men pictured in the documentary are pictured
wearing military uniforms, which reflects the intense
devotion of this country to their armed forces. Women are
also pictured in military uniform, however they’re
predominantly captured wearing traditional North Korean
dresses (hanbok), all of a similar style. Perhaps this
reflects North Korea’s ability to maintain traditional
standards and culture’s due to their isolation from the rest
of the world.

7. SOUND
• Immediately in the documentary, classical and tranquil music
is played as footage of the idyllic scenery of North Korea is
presented on the screen. This non-diegetic music is also played
simultaneously to diegetic sounds of North Koreans laughing
and talking joyfully. Perhaps this music and laughter has been
used initially in the first scene to contrast to any beliefs that all
North Korean’s are unhappy, and live their lives in terror. This
documentary is aimed at a western audience and many Western
media outlets have a tendency to exaggerate what is actually
happening in the DPRK, as we have so little information. This
music might have been included instantly in order to eradicate
any incorrect beliefs about North Korea.

8. EDITING
• This documentary features
minimal editing. Perhaps the
editing is so minimal because the
film maker wants the documentary
to feel raw and untouched, to
reveal an element of truth to the
audience. However text has been
added to ensure that the audience
are familiar with each speaker in
the documentary, and it also adds
reliability. The documentary also
features cuts to ensure that each
clip runs smoothly into one
another.

9. ARCHIVE MATERIAL
• There is archive material throughout the
documentary. This is used so that there
are not as many jumpstarts, and the
audience can therefore allow to see a
range of evidence and images. It is
often placed in the middle of two
relevant scenes, for example North
Korean propaganda is strategically
placed in the midst of a scene that talks
about North Korea’s education system
that teaches lies about war and
Americans.

10. GRAPHICS
• The graphics are beneficial as they supply the viewer
with statistics and reliable information. They help to build
the argument for North Korea’s large army and military
bases. They also allow to viewer to envisage North Korea
in relation to the rest of the world.

11. THEORIES
• This documentary fits into the uses and
gratifications theory by Blumler and Katz. It fits
into this through the concept of surveillance, as
the audience is obtaining information and
knowledge from the documentary. It also
demonstrates the socioeconomic model by
interviewing a variety of men and women in
different occupations.