Documentary GenreJade Melvin

• The purpose is to document i.e. reporting with evidence about something that

has actually happened.

• It can show this by using actuality or reconstructions

• It can use narrators voiceover to anchor the meaning or rely on participants

themselves with the odd interjection by the unseen narrator.

Types

Fully Narrated- off screen voiceover is used to make sense of the visuals and dominates their meaning e.g. Natural History

Fly on the Wall- has its roots in cinema venté. The camera is set up to be non intrusive and the participants don’t acknowledge

the presence of the camera. E.g. Educating Yorkshire

Mixed- This type of documentary is the one that is used the most out of all. It uses a combination of interview, observation and

narration to advance the argument or the narrative.

Self Reflexive- this is when the subjects of documentary acknowledge the presence of the camera and often speak directly to

the documentary maker.

Docu-Drama- Re-enactment of events as they are supposed to happen e.g. Nightmare Next Door

Docu-Soap- this is the most recent type of documentary. It follows the daily lives of particular individuals within an

organisation and combines elements of documentary and soap operas. E.g. Easy Jet

The celebrity presented documentaries are most recent in a post digital age and people work a lot harder to attract.

Features

Observation

• Most documentaries contain sequences of observation

• This is where the programme makers ‘pretend’ that the camera is unseen

• Places the audience in the position of an observer or an eye witness to events.

Interview

• Documentaries rely on interviews. The interview is either seen or unseen.

Mise en scene

• All shots are easily composed so they only contain images they want the audience to see.

Dramatization

• Documentaries use a sense of drama which is the observational element.

• Sometimes dramatic reconstructions are used.

Exposition

• The line of argument in a documentary and is made up of description combined with commentary. E.g. Natural History

Construction

• Even when actuality footage is used people are directed and sets are organized, so there is still a high

level of construction taking place.

• Documentaries do not necessarily contain analysis.

• They may just be descriptive and may leave it to the viewer to reach conclusions.