Genre Analysis

A documentaries purpose is to document an event. They can include footage of the event taking place, or perhaps a dramatic reconstruction to anchor meaning for the viewer and a voice over to perhaps influence opinion.

The definition of a documentary is problematic as there are many different forms and several sub-genres. Whenever a documentary is classed as ‘real’ this must be questioned. As a documentary, may strive to document actual events and present the vents as reality, it cannot be helped that a high level of construction takes place. Actors may be used for reconstructions, sets are sometimes used when interviewing people associated with the event and even in the interviews, and the documentary makers will only ask the interviewee the questions they want to be answered, making it seem as though the interview is natural, when in fact it is essentially staged.

“What distinguishes documentary is the portrayal of the recorded sounds and images of actuality”

-John Corner 1995

Documentary was first defined in the 1930’s when John Frierson made the first of its kind with ‘Housing Problems’. He defined a documentary as ‘The creative treatment of Actuality’ .

At this time, Documentaries were meant for the cinema, as TV had not yet been invented. Now, depending on the topic of the documentary, the schedule is vital. Many advertisers may be cautious of placing their adverts in the middle of documentaries that deal with controversial issues. Also, depending on what programmes are on before and after the documentary may affect its viewer total.

Some documentaries are sensational and emotional to gain a bias opinion from its viewers, whereas some offer a balanced view, leaving the viewer to make up their own mind. Documentaries are often renowned for its investigative journalism that often apposes the government and/or society.

Creativity

It has also been questioned as to how creative a documentary should be as authenticity is crucial to any documentary.

Even though it is possible to capture events in their raw state, it can still be considered ‘fake’ as the angles it is shown from, is the angle of a particular view point, and are not true to others that would have seen the event in a different way. Also, the narration that overlays the images can influence how we process the footage, to an extent the crew, and documentary maker(s) are in control of what truth the viewer sees.

“Truth is what you can actually come away with at the end of seeing a film. I mean it’s your truth you’re seeing. Everybody who makes a film is putting their truth on screen.”

-Diane Tammes

John Corner states that there are 5 central features to a documentary.

OBSERVATION
MISE-EN-SCENE
EXPOSITION
DRAMATISATION

Observation

Cameras placed act as an eyewitness observation, acting as a form of prove that something happened.

Interview

Interviews can contrast the footage that is shown, often during a cutaway to anchor meaning. Interviews can be used in 2 ways. As a full interview or as segments throughout.

Dramatisation

All documentaries use a form of dramatisation to make the audience feel as though they are an eyewitness to the event.

Mise-En-Scene

Where the interviewee is interviewed is vital, it must relate to the documentary topic and can also advance the exposition.

Exposition
The exposition is the  line of argument.

There are 4 types of exposition/
PLAIN
DIRECT
INDIRECT
HIDDEN

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A Narrator is used to further the argument, to perhaps tell the audience what to think or influence opinion. Documentaries that simply rely on observation for the audience to form an opinion is said to be weak in exposition.

Documentaries have resulted in the changing of laws and legislations. Ken Loaches ‘Cathy Come Home’ resulted in having the conditions homeless people live in improved.

 

“It is critical that film makers be rid of the fantasy that the documentary can be unproblematic representation of reality and truth can be conveniently dispersed and received like valium”

                                                                                                    -Dennis O’Rouke

John Corner believes evidence rather than truth would aid in proving that ideas of truth and reality can conflict.

Documentaries show the transformed new world.

They are the first to be cut if money is tight.

Sex Violence and Law and Order are get high viewers with documentaries.

3   WAY PROCESS People in them, viewers and the reaction.

TYPES OF DOCUMENTARY

Fully Narrated
Fully narrated documentaries have a voice over that makes sense of the visuals and anchors meaning. He or she is often the ‘Voice of God’ and we trust that what they are saying is the truth.

Fly On the Wall

comes from the genre of Cinema vertie. The events are recorded as they happen there and then. Editing in this case is crucial as it builds meaning and can definitely sway opinion. An example of this is 'Joan Rivers: A piece of work'

Mixed Documentary

Combination of observation, interview and narration to lead the argument.

Self Reflective 

When a documentary maker is involved and often talks to the camera. Critics say these are confusing as often the event is less focused on and more publicity is given to the documentary maker, like the Ross Kemp documentaries. 

Docudrama

These are a re-enactment of events. They are not filmed in reality and the drama can cause bias opinion. They claim to relive the event but in fact produce works of fiction

Docusoap

Follows the daily Lives of people or person. (The Family) Although questionable as to whether they are documentaries they are popular with viewers and cheap to make.

Disneyfication

Steven Barnett’s theory that the pressure for things to look good, glossy and appeal to the public, loses touch with the hard hitting and important issues.

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Narrative

Documentaries must have a beginning Middle and an end.

Beginning:  Must entice the audience and make clear what the Documentaries purpose is.

Middle: The middle focuses on the exposition/the argument that you are trying to make.

End:  Argument must be across and the audience is aware of what the documentary tried to do.