2. 1. Poetic Documentaries
A mode which first appeared in the 1920’s. It uses
poetic manipulation to give the audience an insight
into the truth, rather than understanding of a
situation. Often non-linear in continuity and style,
poetic documentaries can be seen as surreal at
times.
Strives on visuals to apply description, and uses
association to help the audience empathise with the
subject.
EXAMPLE:
3. 2. Expository Documentaries
-voice of god
Using a direct mode of address, the narrator (often
male and upper class) appears omnipresent and
usually concludes the documentary
rhetorically, leaving the audience to collect their
own opinion.
Despite this, there is a blatant bias, occasionally
complimenting their argument with
images, commentary and titles. The ‘voice of god’ is
an authoritive guidance, manufactured to influence
your opinion.
EXAMPLE:
4. 3. Observational Documentaries
Uses a minimum of commentary, disruption and interruption from
the cameraperson, whilst also steering away from the abstract
style of poetic documentaries.
Nothing is staged, it is often spontaneous and unprovoked.
Often, the camera work is shaky, due to the lack of planning.
Initially began in the 1960’s, when mobile lightweight cameras
were first introduced.
EXAMPLE:
5. 4. Participatory Documentaries
The cameraperson communicates with the subject – the film
maker becomes actively involved with the events and
happenings of the documentary. Their opinions and thoughts
are accepted. The film maker believes that it is impossible for
them to not influence the documentary, and therefore
become actively involved.
The film maker withholds a certain amount of power by having
the camera, but other than that, they are equal to everybody
else featured in the documentary.
EXAMPLE:
6. 5. Reflexive Documentaries
-awareness of the process
Resembles ‘a truth’, but doesn’t suggest that it represents the entirety of
‘the truth.’ Reflexive Documentaries make it obvious to the audience
that they’re simply representations of the world. It has been described as
‘the most self-conscious of the documentary modes.’ Leaving the
audience to question how genuine documentaries are.
May reveal a ‘behind the scenes’ insight into how the documentary was
made.
EXAMPLE:
and
7. 6. Performative Documentaries
A documentary designed
either as an emotive
response to current events or
made to provoke a reaction
from the audience.
Often aims to stimulate
emotions from the audience.
EXAMPLE:
