The Theory of Documentary

1. The Theory of
Documentary
Milly King

2. The Purpose of Documentary
• Documentaries document and report with evidence and they are based on fact.
• Documentaries use reconstruction, interviews, footage and observation and usually
have a voice over that anchors meaning to the audience.
• They may resemble a film but are always based on fact.
• Documentaries on the past may not have footage of the event itself so can rely on
archives or interviews.
“What distinguishes documentaries is the portrayal of recorded sound
and images of actuality”
– John Corner, 1995

3. The History of Documentary
• John Grierson coined the term documentary in 1926 as the term to define the creative treatment of
actuality (reality).
• Grierson made many famous documentaries himself mostly about conflicts of the time some of his most
famous documentaries were Housing Problems (1935), Coal Face (1935) and Night Mail (1936)
• He shot real people and real situations in a real environment and believed that is what documentary
should be. He wanted to give people a glimpse of other people's lives, which had not been something
available to an audience at this time, this was an entirely new concept.
• His documentaries had an element of persuasion and boosted morale at the time.

4. The 5 essential elements of a Documentary
1. Observation – Most documentaries include observation. This is where the subject pretends that the
camera is unseen which makes the audience become the witness. One criticism of this is that the
participants become objects as opposed to subjects.
2. Interview – Most television documentaries rely on interview. These are structured and are
intercut/interrupted.
3. Dramatization – All documentaries use the element of drama. The audience becomes an
eyewitness of this. This can be created through conflict.
4. Mise-en-scene – Documentary settings are carefully composed, where they are sat, their body
language and the background are all strategically thought out to create an atmosphere for the
audience.
5. Exposition – The line of argument/The point of the documentary. They are made up of description
and commentary whether it is plain, hidden, direct or indirect, it is always there.

5. Controversial nature of Documentaries
• Documentaries are not typically popular with commercial broadcasting companies
as they tend to be controversial and offend advertising companies which makes it
hard to sell the advertising space.
• British documentaries are renowned for their investigative journalism and are
especially hard-hitting. Dramatic music and sensationalised footage are used which
forces the audience to having a view.
• Tensions have risen in creators over the balance of creativity, this is because
problems arise of authenticity, the more creative the documentary is the more it
runs away from focus.

6. Truth Vs Reality
• Although documentaries are bases on the truth, they also contain elements of fiction. In order to keep high
ratings, the filmmakers have to find a way to make programme interesting for a wide audience and
because of this they often become over-sensationalised. Documentaries represent a transformed world as
they are edited and scripted and are not the whole truth. The general public’s interest only extends to
programmes about sex, violence and law and order.
• There is a complex relationship between people in documentaries, producers and audience. Normally
documentaries are used to tell the stories of society's victims. They use human beings as evidence and
exploit and expose people's lives.
'It is critical that the filmmakers be rid of the fantasy that the documentary can be
unproblematic representation of reality and that the 'truth' can be conveniently dispensed
and revealed like valium.'
-Dennis O'Rourke

7. “I think the truth is what you
actually come away with at the
end of the film. I mean it's your
truth that you’re seeing.
Everybody who adds an input to
the film is putting their own truth
on the screen”
- Diane Tammes, Filmmaker

8. Current Affairs
• There are tensions between the forms of documentary as they have split into two varieties: art and
reportage.
• Some people argue that the name of documentaries should be replaced with ‘non-fiction programming’
• Current Affair programmes are softened documentaries that are mid way between the news and a
documentary eg ‘Dispatches’. They look at weighty issues and give a more in depth analysis on what is
happening in the news. However, these have been criticized for becoming increasingly sensationalised and
ratings driven eg ‘Tonight with Trevor McDonald’
• However these types of shows can have a major impact on the audience. Documentary maker Ken
Loach's documentary of Cathy Come Home, was so influential that the laws were changed about
homeless people and started a movement to help homelessness in Britain.

9. Types of Documentary
• Fully Narrated – these have direct address and a voiceover which acts as a voice of god eg
David Attenborough
• Fly on the Wall - Formed from verite exposition on subject (a genre of programmes
emphasizing realism and naturalism) there is no commentary or voiceover eg police
documentaries
• Mixed Documentary – Combination of interview, observation, narration eg 60 days in Jail
• Self Reflective - The subject acknowledges the camera and makes a point of enhancing
filmmakers roles eg Louis Theroux
• Docudrama - A dramatised re enactment of true events, this includes elements of fiction to
engage the audience eg ‘Hillsborough’ by Jimmy McGovern. Critics say docudramas
• Docusoap - Follow the lives of people, eavesdropping on their lives eg Educating Yorkshire

10. Disneyfication
• There is a growing pressure on broadcasters to produce high ratings
• Steve Barnetts Theory: Steven Barnett looked at the need for television to
broadcast things that win ratings instead of serious documentaries. He believes
that documentaries have been 'dumbed down' and softened for audiences since this
is what people have become used to. There are claims that this shows television
being 'cheap' and being less about the subject of the documentary and more about
appealing to the audience.

11. Documentary Conventions
• Documentaries rely heavily on narrative conventions. They have a definite beginning,
middle and end also they have a strong focus on conflict. They also include music and sound
effects to make them more interesting.
• Beginning: This will lay out the central question of the documentary and go into some
action footage or quick interview conflicts.
• Middle: This is where the documentary will become more complicated and it will examine
the issue in more detail and voice differences in opinions and the argument becomes
strengthened. It will offer a range of different arguments creating complications and
conflicting evidence.
• End: The end makes the exposition fully apparent. The complications are resolved and there
is no doubt for the audience.

12. Documentary Conventions
• All documentaries should have a sense of conflict, whether it is on people's, beliefs, class or
culture, and this should be built up throughout. There is usually a confrontation on camera
that juxtaposes the central argument and a sense of movement throughout which strengthens
the narrative.
• Music and Sound Effects are used to create an atmosphere and to create an emotional
response from the audience. In reconstructions and interviews, music is sometimes quietened
but adds to the subject's story.
• In a documentary, it is often hard for an interview to appear natural. However, they are
crucial in order for the producer to get their argument across. Interviews can create a new
reality and can easily be manipulated as through editing and constructing questions.
• The Lighting is important to create authenticity and realism, the lighting should be natural
to the environment.