Video Entry #5 - Modes of Documentary

Whilst learning about documentary, we have been taught about documentary modes. Here are a list of them and explaining what they are with an example.

Observational

Observational is an unobtrusive camera which interacts with everyday subjects. This means the director can observe people's everyday lives without them acting unnatural or playing to the camera. An example: "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster"

Expository

Expository is to create an argument and have a voice over provide the assumptions and the images provide the evidence

Example: Any reputable nature documentary

Participatory

Participatory is where the filmmaker and subject interact. Similar to Performative. 

"The performative mode, the final mode Nichols discusses, is easily confused with the participatory mode, and Nichols remains somewhat nebulous about their distinctions. The crux of the difference seems to lie in the fact that where the participatory mode engages the filmmaker to the story but attempts to construct truths that should be self-evident to anyone, the performative mode engages the filmmaker to the story but constructs subjective truths that are significant to the filmmaker him or herself"

Example: "Exit through the gift shop"

Performative

Similar to what's written above

Example: Any Louis Theroux or Michael Moore documentary

Poetic

Poetic is where a documentary emphasis visual associations, tonal or rhythmic qualities, descriptive passages and formal organisation. These films can be called experimental or avant-garde

Example: "Night and Fog"

Reflexive

Reflexive calls to attention the assumptions and conventions that govern documentary filmmaking. An example of this is the mockumentary format.

Example: "This is Spinal Tap"