Conventions of Documentaries
In 1926 John Grierson came up with the term Documentary. The purpose of documentaries is to document something that has actually happened. In the documentaries they show actual footage or a reconstruction. They use the narrator to voice over to anchor the meaning or they rely on participant themselves with an occasional interrogation by the narrator. Documentaries are not just about facts; instead the facts can be used to create socially critical arguments which invite the audience and allow them to draw their own conclusions.
Features of Documentaries
Observation - Most documentaries contain observation and it is where the programme makers have the camera on scene but it tends to be ignored by the people taking part.
Interview - An interview is very important as it gives the participants chance to voice their own views and opinions.
Mise-en-scene - Refers to everything that is within the shot.
Expositions - The point that the documentary is trying to get across to the audience/ The line fo arguement.
Narrative Conventions
Documentaries rely on traditional conventions of narrative i.e. there is a beginning, a middle and an end.
Beginning - The central question of the documentary can be posed at the beginning in an intriguing way. Most dramatic pieces of action footage can also be placed at the start, or some quick interview cuts in conflict with each other can get the audience's attention.
Middle - The middle of a documentary often examines the issue in "human terms" focusing on people and their opinions. The conflict in the documentary is strengthened.
End - The exposition (line of argument) is fully apparent by the end of the documentary. The audience has no doubts as to what the programme is saying and there may even be a course of action the audience can take to address the problem.
Sense of Movement - This can add strength to the narrative elements according to documentary maker Micheal Rabiger and it can take three forms: Physical movements, Movement in time presented and Psychological change.
Music and Sound Effects - Sound is effective in producing an emotional response in the audience.
Narrative Structure
Open - The audience is left to make their own mind up at the end.
Closed - There is a definite ending and outcome.
Single-strand - There is only one main plot throughout.
Multi-strand There are many different subplots which interweave.
Linear - It is in chronological order i.e. there is a beginning, middle and an end in that order.
Non-linear - There is no chronological order. Time is disrupted in some way e.g. via flashbacks.
Circular - There is a question at the start which is revisited at the end. Circular narratives can tie in with open narratives.
Fully Narrated - There is a voiceover that is always off screen that explains what is happening in the documentary.
Fly on the Wall - Relies heavily on observation with very little or no voiceover and narration.
Mixed - A combination of interview, narrative and observation, usually in equal amounts.
Self Reflective - The camera is acknowledged by the people on screen.
Docudrama - A form of documentary that follows a storyline of events as they happened.
Docusoap - A documentary that follows the lives of different individuals.
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