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Types of documentaries
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- 2. Poetic Documentaries Poeticdocumentaries focus on creating an abstract piece of film by portraying meaningful images with complimenting, intense music as the soundtrack. Through this technique, poetic documentaries portray a mesmerizing art that sucks its audiences into the countless moving images. The very first poetic documentary was in released 1920’s. In fact poetic documentaries were evident in the early 20th centaury due to the discovery of sound with moving images. A famous example of a poetic documentary is Samsara which is a stunning film that features extraordinary breath taking images featuring symphonic soundtracks. The ultimate goal is to create feeling rather tan a truth
- 3. Expository Documentary Formy film studies short film project, I had created a Expository documentary which included various images with a stunning soundtrack with a voice over which talked about peace and how we should reach for it. My aim was to educate and encourage my audiences on what peace was and how to find it. An expository documentary, as explained above, follows the same steps as a poetic documentary however it is the closest to the definition of a documentary. This type of documentary is featured in history documentaries. Instead of creating feeling, like a poetic documentary, expository documentaries aim to uncover truths and persuade its audience.
- 4. Observational Documentaries Observationaldocumentaries originated in the mid 1960’s when portable filming equipment was more common to purchase and widely used The aim of these documentaries were to capture real life events that many people would not be able to see in day to day life. This gives audiences a taste of the third world dimension that his hidden from an every day persons life. The documentaries can take the narrative of simply following celebrities around in their exciting, fame filled life such as reality shows. The Kardashian is a famous example as the camera man simple follows the family around whilst they pretend the cameraman isn't in their presence. However traditionally the style aims to give a vice to an untold truth or a private matter.
- 5. Participatory Documentaries Participatorydocumentaries are when the filmmaker is ’participating’ in the documentary as well as filming it. The filmmaker plays a huge role in deciding the path of the narrative and almost acts as another character. This interaction with the documentary could be as simple as the filmmakers voice being heard whilst the filming f the documentary is taking place. A good example is Bear Grylls who features talking to the camera man and camera crew frequently whilst on his incredible adventures.
- 6. Reflexive Documentary Thesedocumentaries are linked to participatory documentaries, however they solely focus on the filmmaker and how they make films. Reflexive documentaries are common on dvd’s of blockbuster films which feature behind the scenes work of the film maker and producer/director. Louis Theroux is a famous example of a film maker who makes reflexive documentaries. He is known for his controversial method of reflexive film making as he is in front of the camera and is a casual interviewer.
- 7. Performative Documentaries Performativedocumentaries are the daddy of al documentaries as they are an experimental combination of styles used to stress a subject experience and share an emotional response to the world. These often feature personal accounts or experience juxtaposed with arguer political or historical issues. This is sometimes been called the ‘Michael Moore’ style as he often used his own personal stories as a way to construct social truths.