Modes of Documentary

Typical Conventions

Expository Conventions

• Voiceover, addresses the audience directly.

• The voiceover may either be a ‘voice of God’ commentator (heard but not seen); or ‘voice of authority’ (seen and heard – usually an expert in the relevant field).

• Images are used to illustrate (or sometimes counterpoint) the voiceover.

Expository Conventions...• Editing is used for continuity, to link together images

that support the argument put forward in the voiceover.

• A variety of footage, interviews, stills, archive material is assembled to support the argument.

• Attempts to persuade the audience of a particular point of view, often by appealing to logic and the idea of a common-sense response.

Observational Conventions• Location shooting – using hand-held cameras.

• Long takes dominate.

• Synchronous (direct) sound recording.

• No voiceover (in its purest form).

• No interviews.

• Documentary-maker’s presence is hidden.

• Subjects pretend that they are not being filmed.

Reflexive Conventions• Borrows techniques from fiction film for an emotional, subjective

response.

• Emphasises the expressive nature of film; anti-realist techniques e.g. re-enactments, expressive lighting, dramatic music.

• Voiceover (when present) is likely to be questioning and uncertain – rather than authoritative.

• Reliance on suggestion and implied meaning rather than fact.

Performative Conventions• Documentary-maker (and crew) interact with the subject.

• Documentary-maker comments on the process of making the documentary.

• The documentary is often shaped into the narrative of an investigation or search, possibly without a satisfactory conclusion.

• The audience is addressed in an emotional and direct way.

• Subject matter often concerns identity (gender, sexuality) – rather than ‘factual’ topics.

Participatory or Interactive Conventions

• Documentary-maker (and crew) interacts with the subject.

• Interviews dominate but tend to be informal – literally ‘on the run’ questioning.

• Use of archive material – stills, news footage, newspaper headlines, letters etc.

• Location shooting; hand-held camera.

Participatory or Interactive Conventions...

• Long takes dominate.

• Synchronous (direct) sound recording.

• Voiceover, usually by the documentary-maker.

• Documentary-maker is visible to the audience – intervenes and participates in the action.

Poetic Conventions

• Documentary-maker gives subjective view• Not in typical narrative structure• Particular mood/tone is created – enhanced by music• Some light rhetoric but not always• Events are under-developed and situations can be left

unsolved • Unrelated shots edited together - linked by a mood/music• Perceived as Avant-garde (innovative, experimental,

pushes boundaries)