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Documentaries. Five types of documentary films: expository, observational, interactive, reflexive, and performative . . Expository Documentary. Characteristics of Expository Docs:
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Documentaries Five types of documentary films: expository, observational, interactive, reflexive, and performative.
Expository Documentary • Characteristics of Expository Docs: • a disembodies and authoritative voiceover (“voice-of-God”) commentary combined with a series of descriptive/informative images • Voiceover addresses viewer directly, typically commenting on images • Main purpose is to be informative and descriptive, or to provide a particular argument, and to be objective • Typically used in TV documentaries
Observational Documentary • Characteristics of Observational Docs: • Characterized by the non-intervention of the film-maker • Emphasis is to present a slice of life or direct representation of the filmed events, simply to observe • Refuses to manipulate or distort events • More notable for what it doesn’t contain: • No “voice-of-God” commentary • No intertitles • No interviews • Film-maker is completely invisible
Interactive Documentaries • Characteristics of Interactive Docs: • Film-maker’s presence is prominent • Film-maker interacts with the people or events being filmed • Either on-screen or off-screen • Content tends to be primarily interviews • “Interactive documentary… arose from the…desire to make the film-maker’s perspective more evident. Interview styles and interventionist tactics arose, allowing the film-maker to participate more actively in present events.”
Reflexive Documentary • One step further than interactive documentary • Attempts to expose or challenge the documentary’s ability to reveal the truth • Instead of focusing on the events or people filmed, it focuses on how they are filmed • Challenges the objective nature of the documentary and the subjective choices involved in film-making
Performative Documentary • Doesn’t capture the world in the same way as other docs but tries to represent the world indirectly • Evokes the mood or atmosphere that is traditionally found in fiction films • Presents subject matter in subjective, expressive, stylized, evocative and/or visceral manner • “deflects attention away from the world and towards the expressive dimension of film”