Bill Nichols decided that their were six modes of Documentary. They were

• Poetic mode• Expository mode• Observational mode• Participatory mode• Reflexive mode• Performative mode

• Started in 1920’s• There is no beginning, middle or

end in this mode• It focuses on abstract, expression

and emotion and is subjective• documentary is not in a specific

order and there's no rhythm to it.

• Often referred to as “voice of god” this mode directs the audience through narration and is associated with the 1920’s and 1930’s

• Often includes images and archive footage over a voice over

• Involves the audience into the subject of the documentary and often develops an argument as the documentary progresses.

• Started in 1960’s and observes the world as it happens

• Often have no voice-over commentary, music or interviews

• Participates in the documentary behave as if no filmmakers or camera are there

• Camera is small, light and often hidden• Example include Big Brother.

• This is when the encounter between the film-maker and the subject is recorded, as the film-maker actively engages with the situation as they are documenting, while asking questions and sharing experiences

• Gives the audience a sense of what it is like for the film maker to be in a given situation

• Often includes interviews and voice overs.

• This demonstrates consciousness of the progress or reading documentary

• Engages actively with the issue, acknowledges the presence of the viewer and the modality judgements

• Viewer has more than one judgement• Speaks about the historical world and about

the problems and issues of representing it.

• This is when the documentary acknowledges the emotional and subjective aspects of documentary and presents ideas as part of a context, having different meanings for different people, often autobiographical in nature

• Often addresses the audience and can be educational and informative

• Audience respond in an emotional way and allows them to gain more understanding of the event.