1. Documentary Styles
Examples
Bill Nichols distinguishes 6 different types of
documentaries: poetic, expository, observational,
participatory, reflexive, and performative.

2. Poetic Mode
Explores the complex editing within a documentary; juxtaposing and linking images,
video clips and music etc.
Koyannisqatsi 1982 Godfrey Reggio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=546AUDxeHKs
The documentary There is then a montage
begins with a blind of video clips of buildings
effect of the title. This and cities. Here again,
is an example of poetic there is a link with
mode because it uses videos and music,
artificial music along suggesting this
with the title to create documentary to be an
an effective beginning. example of poetic mode.
Another montage of the A mid shot video of a
public is then used, women is then used with
along with a slow a tube going past, giving
motion pace and an effect of strong winds.
dramatic music. This mix Likewise, the video is
of videos, music and accompanied with
editing creates an artificial music.
example of poetic mode.
Koyannisqatsi is a Hopi Indian term for ‘life out of balance’. The documentary explores the unseen world
using images, videos and music effectively together.

3. Expository Mode
Expository mode explores documentaries which include factual information and
figures, having interviews to back up the topic also.
America’s Most Wanted
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMCVH3wdU2w
The documentary begins There is then a series
with a presenter of secondary images
introducing the topic and showing the person
content. In this scene, the who is the focus of the
director uses an documentary. The
establishing shot of what images are displayed
looks like a court house as a montage along
to emphasise the with a voiceover.
seriousness of the topic.
There is then a interview
Use of surveillance
with the local police
footage is then used.
department to support
This provides factual
the topic. There is also a
footage which has not
caption at the bottom of
been filmed or
the screen. His interview
produced. The footage
is also used a voiceover
also provides back up
on top of videos relevant
on the topic.
to what he is saying.

4. Observational Mode
Observational mode tends to just observe, allowing viewers to reach to their own
conclusions of the documentary.
Big Brother
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3VCb6z__Pk
To begin, there is a clip There is then footage
of a personal talk from the garden of
between a housemate housemates. These
and ‘Big Brother’ where clips are not
they are able to express produced or edited,
themselves and chat they are clips of the
privately from housemates natural
housemates. There is behaviour within the
also a caption beneath. house.
The cameras a hidden The cameras are hidden
throughout the house, to allow housemates to
hidden behind mirrors and not act different due to
placed in corners of rooms. being aware constantly
Cameras can zoom and they are being filmed.
focus on certain This mean they will be
housemates who are talking them natural selves.
for example. Allowing cameras to
observe their behaviour.

5. Participatory Mode
The filmmaker tends to become the subject of the documentary. Actively engaging
with the situation they are documenting asking questions and sharing experiences.
Life of Michael Jackson By Bashir (2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl0uqobeVDM
There is then a one to one
The subject of the topic is talk with the filmmaker and
introduced by a montage Michael Jackson,
of videos of Michael introducing the
Jackson. A voiceover of documentary type to be
participatory. Michael
the filmmaker/presenter
Jackson is presented to be
is used in the background the subject due to having
also to introduce his more focus on him, the
documentary. presenter having a side of
the screen and back
towards us.
Clips of Bashir with
Michael Jackson are shown Due to this mode, the
in his own home. Here in presenter is able to
his personal cinema. This speak to Michael Jackson
shows how its on more of a personal
participatory as the level, recording clips of
presenter is getting information which are
involved with the subject more personal and
instead of simply speaking emotional.
about him.

6. Reflexive Mode
“to aid the audience in their understanding of the process of construction in film so
that they could develop a sophisticated and critical attitude.”
A Man With a Movie Camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ZciIC4JPw
The documentary shows the
construction and production You can then see the
using videos of the director director using the camera
filming and editing. By the reel and projector before
audience seeing how a film his film screening in the
is produced, allows critical documentary. This gives
response as they are able to the audience an insight
see ‘behind closed doors’ on to how complicated and
his filming. thorough filming is.
Here we are shown
Here we are able to see
footage of the filmmaker
the lens of the camera
preparing the film reels
in action whilst
ahead of the screening.
zooming in and out of a
Being shown the
shot. This if effective to
production of the filming
watch as we are able to
is effective as it allows us
see how the man uses
to see the in depth
the camera during
making of the
making his
documentary.
documentary.

7. Performative Mode
Acknowledges the emotional and subjective aspects of a documentary and also
addresses the audience emotionally.
Tongues Untied
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2T0UdNaWlo&playnext=1&list=PL5B1A0AB28AD
FDBDA&feature=results_main
The documentary Here we are shown an
shows a proud intimate video of a
lifestyle of a black gay black gay couple, this
man. The video clip is effective as it
here used emphasises reaches out to be
the power and open and show the
strength in these audience how normal
males standing up for this is and stop
who they are. prejudice against gay
black men.
This image captures the Personal recollections of
feeling and emotions Riggs's life is expressed
with an up close head through actors
shot of the man in hiding/protecting
focus. Accompanied themselves from the pain
with this, is a voiceover in which is inflicted upon
of this man speaking them. This along with the
words of voiceover is effective as it
encouragement and a explores emotionally into
new equal life. the documentary.