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    Modes of Documentary

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    Bill Nichols identified six modes of documentary: expository, poetic, observational, participatory, performative, and reflexive. Each mode has a distinct style but documentaries often mix styles. Nichols notes that while a mode may dominate, it does not determine every aspect of a film's organization. Bruzzi adds that all documentary types have existed at different times and often blend styles. The point is contributing meaning about real world events, not worrying about authenticity.

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    Modes of Documentary

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    Bill Nichols identified six modes of documentary: expository, poetic, observational, participatory, performative, and reflexive. Each mode has a distinct style but documentaries often mix styles. Nichols notes that while a mode may dominate, it does not determine every aspect of a film's organization. Bruzzi adds that all documentary types have existed at different times and often blend styles. The point is contributing meaning about real world events, not worrying about authenticity.

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    Bill Nichols identified six modes of documentary: expository, poetic, observational, participatory, performative, and reflexive. Each mode has a distinct style but documentaries often mix styles. Nichols notes that while a mode may dominate, it does not determine every aspect of a film's organization. Bruzzi adds that all documentary types have existed at different times and often blend styles. The point is contributing meaning about real world events, not worrying about authenticity.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    545 views10 pages

    Modes of Documentary

    Uploaded by

    apc108
    Bill Nichols identified six modes of documentary: expository, poetic, observational, participatory, performative, and reflexive. Each mode has a distinct style but documentaries often mix styles. Nichols notes that while a mode may dominate, it does not determine every aspect of a film's organization. Bruzzi adds that all documentary types have existed at different times and often blend styles. The point is contributing meaning about real world events, not worrying about authenticity.

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    The passage discusses six modes of documentary identified by Bill Nichols in his book 'Introduction to Documentary' - Expository, Poetic, Observational, Participatory, Performative, and Reflexive.

    The six modes are Expository, Poetic, Observational, Participatory, Performative, and Reflexive.

    The Expository mode emphasizes verbal commentary and argumentative logic, often using a narrator. It assumes a logical argument and a 'right' and 'proper' answer using direct address and offering a preferred meaning. It is most associated with Television News programming.

    MODES OF DOCUMENTARY

    BILL NICHOLS CATEGORIES


    Alan Clark 5HUM0345, Digital Storytelling

    Six Types

    Bill Nichols is Professor of Cinema and Director of the Graduate Program in Cinema Studies at San Francisco State University. in his book Introduction to Documentary (2001), he identified six types of documentary, each with distinct styles: EXPOSITORY , POETIC, OBSERVATIONAL , PARTICIPATORY, PERFORMATIVE , REFLEXIVE

    Mixed styles

    Nichols points out, the characteristics of a given mode function as a dominant in a given filmbut they do not dictate or determine every aspect of its organization. Stella Bruzzi says that all types of documentary have existed at different times And have often, mixed styles. What is the point of worrying about authenticity She sees documentary as contributing to meaning about real world events.

    Two Books

    Author: Nichols, Bill. Title: Introduction to Documentary Publisher: Indiana University Press, 2002 Author: Bruzzi, Stella. Title: New Documentary. Edition: 2nd edition Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2006.

    THE EXPOSITORY MODE


    (The Voice of God) This mode is what we most identify with the documentary - it "emphasizes verbal commentary and argumentative logic" often using a narrator. Assumes a logical argument and a "right" and "proper" answer using direct address + offering preferred meaning. Most associated with Television News programming.

    THE POETIC MODE


    Subjective, artistic expression The poetic mode of documentary moves away from the "objective" reality of a given situation or people to grasp at an inner "truth" that can only be grasped by poetical manipulation. Emphasizes visual associations, tonal or rhythmic qualities, descriptive passages, and formal organization favours mood, tone and texture.

    THE OBSERVATIONAL MODE


    Window on the world Observational (objective) mode is best exemplified by the Cinema Verite or Direct Cinema movement which emerged in the late 1950s/early 1960s - it attempted to capture (as accurately as possibly) objective reality with filmmaker as neutral observer. Also, see Fly on the Wall. Codes/conventions The filmmaker remains hidden behind the camera, ignored by the surrounding environment he/she neither changes nor influences the actions/events being captured. Since nothing is staged for the camera, the camera rushes about to keep up with the action resulting in rough, shaky, often amateur-looking footage.

    THE PARTICIPATORY MODE

    Unlike the observational mode, the participatory mode welcomes direct engagement between filmmaker and subject(s) - the filmmaker becomes part of the events being recorded The filmmakers impact on the events being recorded is acknowledged, indeed, it is often celebrated.

    THE REFLEXIVE MODE

    The Reflexive Mode acknowledges the constructed nature of documentary and flaunts it -conveying to people that this is not necessarily "truth" but a reconstruction of it - "a" truth, not "the" truth Codes/conventions The artifice of the documentary is exposed - the audience are made aware of the editing, sound recording, etc.

    THE PERFORMATIVE MODE


    Filmmaker as participant This mode of documentary emphasizes the subjective nature of the documentarian as well as acknowledging the subjective reading of the audience - notions of objectivity are replaced by "evocation and affect" Codes /conventions: This mode emphasizes the emotional and social impact on the audience

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