documentary mini task

Introduction What is a documentary? / How would you define ‘documentary’? A documentary is a video footage that provides factual reports on a specific subject, usually using other people to speak of their opinions about the subject. Documentaries are usually set in a format where a guy asks questions and the person in the seat speaks about it, the questionnaire is usually cut out or muted. Some documentaries are more hands on, others are almost portrayed in a movie like way. • Identify the key features of expository documentaries. • Provide your own example of an expository documentary. Expository documentaries typically include voice-over narration, interviews with experts and witnesses, and the use of re-enactments to present a factual and informative account of a particular subject. They often seek to educate the audience and provide a comprehensive overview of the topic being explored. An example of this is the real football factories (2006-) by peter day, this explores real football gangs, the title is based on the movie featuring Danny dyer, who also is the main presenter. • Identify the key feature of observational documentaries. • Provide your own examples of an observational documentary. These do not typically include voice over narration or interviews but instead rely on footage captured in real time to present an unfiltered and unedited view of a particular subject or situation e.g., High school (Frederick Wiseman, 1968). They often seek to immerse the audience in the experience of the subjects being observed and allow the audience to draw their own conclusions about the events depicted. • Identify the key features of interactive documentaries. • Provide your own example of an interactive documentaries. An interactive documentary is a type of documentary film that allows the viewer to interact with the content and become an active participant in the story. An example of this is “my life in limbo” (2020), directed by Anna Fahr. • Identify the key features of reflexive documentaries. • Provide your own example of a reflexive documentary. Reflexive documentaries are characterized by the film makers self-awareness of their role in the documentary and their impact on the subject. The filmmaker’s presence is acknowledged in the documentary, and the filmmaker often reflects on their own process and how it affects the subject. An example is “the act of killing” (2012), directed by Joshua Oppenheimer. • Identify the key features of performative documentaries. • Provide your own example of a performative documentary. Performative documentaries are characterized by the filmmaker’s personal involvement in the documentary. The filmmaker’s presence is often central to the documentary, and they may use their own experience to explore broader Themes. Performative documentaries often blur the line between fact and fiction, and the filmmakers voice is often as important as the subject matter. Tongues untied (1989), tells the experience of black gay in America. Conclusion My favourite format is probably expository documentaries as they are like the only ones I’ve ever really watched and enjoyed what’s happening, mainly because of the voice over and opinions on an interesting subject. I think observational documentaries presents info in the most unbiased way because it doesn’t really have an opinion or a say its just showing you what’s happening, I guess this could be biased by the editing, but I wouldn’t see the need for something like that if its only observational. I think some are unbiased and accurate representations of the real subject but some are purely entertainment and persuade/push the subject to react to make content.