Review: Documentary
6 Modes of Documentary Films
This mode of documentary film explains a topic to an audience using an off-screen narrator sometimes referred to as "the voice of God." Most documentary films shown in the classroom use this mode. Expository Mode
This mode of documentary film involves a camera crew that films without disturbing the scene or even being noticed by the subjects in the documentary. This is often referred to as the "fly on the wall" documentary. Observational Mode
This mode of documentary film emphasizes visual images with music. Instead of talking about the subject, this type of documentary simply shows aspects of the subject in an artistic manner. Poetic Mode
This mode of documentary film is typically the most biased. The filmmaker often serves as an instigator with a subjective attitude toward the subject. This mode of documentary shows events that are often created by the filmmaker for the sake of the film. Performative Mode
This mode of documentary has the filmmaker taking part in the action. With this mode of documentary there is often direct interaction between the filmmaker and the subject, to the point that the filmmaker actually becomes part of the events being recorded. Participatory Mode
This mode of documentary is almost like having a documentary about the documentary. In this mode the audience is made aware of the editing, sound recording, and how the documentary is produced. Reflexive Mode
4 Definitions Important to Understanding Documentaries
The term used when a documentary only gives you one side of the story. Bias
The term used when a documentary presents only what is filmed, without giving the audience any opinion. Objective
The term used when a documentary presents not only what is filmed, but also reflects the opinion of the filmmaker. Subjective
The term used when a filmmaker creates a spoof or fake documentary. Mocumentary
This mode of documentary film explains a topic to an audience using an off-screen narrator sometimes referred to as "the voice of God." Most documentary films shown in the classroom use this mode. Expository Mode
This mode of documentary film involves a camera crew that films without disturbing the scene or even being noticed by the subjects in the documentary. This is often referred to as the "fly on the wall" documentary. Observational Mode
This mode of documentary film emphasizes visual images with music. Instead of talking about the subject, this type of documentary simply shows aspects of the subject in an artistic manner. Poetic Mode
This mode of documentary film is typically the most biased. The filmmaker often serves as an instigator with a subjective attitude toward the subject. This mode of documentary shows events that are often created by the filmmaker for the sake of the film. Performative Mode
This mode of documentary has the filmmaker taking part in the action. With this mode of documentary there is often direct interaction between the filmmaker and the subject, to the point that the filmmaker actually becomes part of the events being recorded. Participatory Mode
This mode of documentary is almost like having a documentary about the documentary. In this mode the audience is made aware of the editing, sound recording, and how the documentary is produced. Reflexive Mode
4 Definitions Important to Understanding Documentaries
The term used when a documentary only gives you one side of the story. Bias
The term used when a documentary presents only what is filmed, without giving the audience any opinion. Objective
The term used when a documentary presents not only what is filmed, but also reflects the opinion of the filmmaker. Subjective
The term used when a filmmaker creates a spoof or fake documentary. Mocumentary