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Documentary Conventions

This document discusses different types of documentaries including expository, observational, interactive/participatory, reflexive, and performative documentaries. It outlines the key conventions of each type and provides an example for each. Expository documentaries use voiceovers and titles to present a strong argument, while observational documentaries have no interviews or voiceovers and subjects are unaware they are being filmed. Interactive documentaries involve the filmmaker and often feature interviews or social experiments. Reflexive documentaries heavily involve the filmmaker both behind and in front of the camera. Performative documentaries focus most on the filmmaking process and address the audience personally.

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405 views5 pages

Documentary Conventions

This document discusses different types of documentaries including expository, observational, interactive/participatory, reflexive, and performative documentaries. It outlines the key conventions of each type and provides an example for each. Expository documentaries use voiceovers and titles to present a strong argument, while observational documentaries have no interviews or voiceovers and subjects are unaware they are being filmed. Interactive documentaries involve the filmmaker and often feature interviews or social experiments. Reflexive documentaries heavily involve the filmmaker both behind and in front of the camera. Performative documentaries focus most on the filmmaking process and address the audience personally.

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Expository Documentaries

Expository documentaries are documentaries which are addressed directly to the


viewer which is often done in the form of a voiceover or titles that propose a
strong argument/ point of view. Expository documentaries often try and persuade
the viewer and are rhetorical. (Name, 2009)
The conventions of an expository documentary include a voiceover, which could
either be a voice of God commentator or a voice of authority, interviews,
archive film and still, images to help support the argument, music, evidentiary
editing, dramatic reconstructions, direct address to the viewer, observation
footage and graphics and animations to help illustrate. (amythechooch, 2010)
The use of a voiceover and having the narration addressed directly to the viewer
means it could seem slightly patronizing which can make it more believable.

An example of an expository documentary is Backstairs Billy: The Queen Mums


Butler
This documentary is about William Tallon. This is an expository documentary
because it uses persuasive techniques throughout, it uses a voice of God
technique when using a voiceover. It contains interviews with experts and
dramatic recreations.

Observational documentaries
Observational documentaries are where the film makers presence is kept hidden,
there are generally no interviews or voiceovers and the sound comes directly
from the footage. The subjects act as if they arent being filmed. They normally
consist of mostly long takes and the camera is hand held and on location.
(amythechooch, 2010) I think this technique of documentary making is effective
as it can seem more real to the audience if the subjects seem like there is no
camera as it can be more convincing and seem like they are telling the truth. A
lot of observational documentaries are filmed over months or years.

An example of an observational documentary The Monastery: Mr Vig and the


Nun (2006)
This documentary is about an 82 year old bachelor, Mr Vig who attempts to fulfil
his dream of creating a monastery by inviting Russian nuns to take up spiritual
residence in his digs. This is an example of an observatory documentary because
the camera footage is shaky and on location (0:41). The documentary consists of
sound either from the footage (1:13) or background music (0:04). The camera
isnt acknowledged by any of the subjects (0:31)

Interactive or participatory documentaries


Interactive/ participatory documentaries mean the filmmaker is involved in the
documentary and often stars in it throughout. This can be through interviews,
social experiments etc. The conventions of interactive/ participatory
documentaries are shaky camera footage, long takes, synchronous sound
recording, use of archive materials, voiceovers (often the voice of the film
maker). (Council and Greenwich Council, 2008) These techniques are used to
make the documentary seem more trustworthy and to make the viewer feel like

they are more involved and in the situation themselves. For example, the shaky
camera technique is used to make the viewer seem like they are stood in the
documentary experiencing it first-hand which therefore makes it more
trustworthy.
An example of a participatory documentary is Louis Theroux.

This is a documentary
made by Louis
Theroux called Behind
Bars. It is about the in
mates of a death row
prison in America. This
is an interactive
documentary because
it contains mostly
shaky camera footage
(7:34), the film maker,
Louis Theroux features
throughout the whole
video (example - 8:36)
and it is his voice which is used for voiceovers. (10:31), almost all of the takes
are long.

Reflexive documentaries.
A reflexive documentary is where the film maker is heavily involved in the
documentary both in front and behind the camera and they often provide a
narrative to the documentary. Often, this type of documentary are for viewers
who are equally as interested in the making of the film and the subject itself. This
technique is effective as it focuses mainly on realism and showing things exactly
how they happen. By having the film maker so involved in every part of the
documentary means it can seem more passionate and truthful. It also helps to
show the problems and negative aspects of making documentaries which other
techniques hide. (cheffernan, 2010)
An example of a reflexive documentary is Nick Broomfields Tales of the grim
sleeper

This is a documentary about the story of a serial killer and how he wasnt caught
for so long. This is an example of a reflexive documentary as the film making

process is heavily involved in the film and allows the viewer to see negotiations
between the film maker and other subjects. The film maker conducts a lot of
interviews and investigates the situation himself. Nick Broomfield dedicated a
large amount of time to not only making the documentary but finding out new
information on the case of the grim sleeper, and recording it as it happened.

Performative documentary.
Performative documentaries place most the attention on the actual film making
process. This can often include things like negotiations, failures, problems and
struggles but will also include the film maker as the main subject. The
performative documentaries have similar conventions to the participatory
documentaries however performative documentaries are often set like an
investigation or search. The audience is always addressed personally and
emotionally. (amythechooch, 2010) I think this type of documentary makes the
audience feel like what theyre being shown is trustworthy as, by showing the
filming process, means it looks more real and believable because you are seeing
the behind the scenes footage as well as footage which could otherwise be
staged.
An example of a performative documentary is Lucy Worsleys An Intimate History of
Dance

This is an example of a performative documentary. It tells the history of dance by


an expert historian Lucy Worsley while Len Goodman help her to involve herself
in learning each dance.

Bibliography
Name (2009) 6 types of documentary. Available at:
https://collaborativedocumentary.wordpress.com/6-types-of-documentary/
(Accessed: 19 April 2016).
Inline Citations: (Name, 2009)
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-of-documentary-conventions
(Accessed: 19 April 2016).
Inline Citations: (amythechooch, 2010)

Council, G. and Greenwich Council (2008) Sami Al-eyadah. Available at:


http://www.slideshare.net/crosswaysfederation/the-five-modes-of-documentarytypical-conventions (Accessed: 19 April 2016).
Inline Citations: (Council and Greenwich Council, 2008)
cheffernan (2010) Donnacha OMaille. Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/cheffernan/reflexive-documentaries (Accessed: 21 April
2016).
Inline Citations: (cheffernan, 2010)

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