Documentary Essay

Expository
An expository documentary speaks directly to the audience, usually in a voice over or titles. These
voice overs/titles are used to propose an argument and point of view. Expository documentaries are
made to try persuade the viewer of a certain view/point. Images are also used in this type of
documentary, they are usually not the main way of getting information to the viewer, rather used to
advance the argument. Historical documentaries that are done in this style are done objectively and
will always give both sides of events.
Conventions commonly found in expository documentary are voiceovers, addressing the audience
directly and images used to show visually what is being said in the voiceover. The voice over is either
a voice of god (heard and not seen or a voice of authority (seen and heard, often an expert in
the field). Editing is also common in these types of documentaries, used to link the images together.
Expository documentaries also have a variety of footage including interviews, stills, archive materials
that are all used to support a certain argument.
Name (2009) 6 types of documentary. Available at: https://collaborativedocumentary.wordpress.com/6-types-ofdocumentary/ (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-ofdocumentary-conventions (Accessed: 18 April 2016).

An example of an expository documentary is David Attenboroughs wildlife documentaries. I say this

because in his documentaries he speaks to the audience directly with a voiceover. This is a common
convention found in expository documentaries. Conventions such as images used to back up what is
being said in the voiceover as well as overall the documentary being done in an objective way. All
these things are common in an expository documentary and that is why David Attenboroughs
wildlife documentaries are examples of this type of documentary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhO0GCNSZ_w

Observational
Observational documentaries observe life with little intervention, usually focusing on individual
human character in ordinary life situations. These types of documentaries include conventions such
as voiceover commentaries, post-synchronization dialogue and music, re- enactments. Observational
documentaries will often be fly on the wall/spontaneous, production quality is not the main focus
for this type of documentary with small easy to use hand cameras used. The focus is more on telling
the story.

Name (2009) 6 types of documentary. Available at: https://collaborativedocumentary.wordpress.com/6-types-ofdocumentary/ (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-ofdocumentary-conventions (Accessed: 18 April 2016).

This is an example of an observational documentary because the documentary focuses on observing

the life of these Irish bare knuckle fighters. There is very little interaction from the camera men and
the interviews are very spontaneous and it is obvious that majority of the overall filming is very
spontaneous and little planning went into it. Also the production quality is often lowered due to
small hand cameras being used, this is done to allow certain places to be filmed. Lowered production
quality to allow the full story to be shown is something that is quite common in observational
documentaries.

https://youtu.be/XKYAgpW64Vs
Interactive
Interactive documentaries bring the film makers into the events and filmed people in the
documentary. Content in interactive documentaries are primarily focused on the precentor
themselves and focusing on how they are feeling about the current events and how it is affecting
them. It is often backed with interviews, focusing on certain comments and responses from the
people being filmed. In a well-made interactive documentary the filmed people will be allowed to
express their opinions and views and the film makers may counter that opinion with another opinion
so that the viewer can have a balanced view. Interactive documentaries will often have the film
maker appear on screen, this could be to ask questions in an interview or to express an opinion. The
interviews are informal and not scripted, archive material such as news footage is also commonly
found in interactive documentaries. Also long takes are commonly found in this type of documentary
as well as voiceovers and is often shot with hand-held cameras.
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-ofdocumentary-conventions (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
Morris, M. and profile, V. my complete (2010) Film and media studies at st Gregorys. Available at:
http://filmandmedialevel3.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/a2-film-studies-interactive-documentary_21.html (Accessed: 18
April 2016).
15, laurahillll (2012) Clhart. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/laurahillll15/documentary-styles-examples
(Accessed: 18 April 2016).

This is an example of an interactive documentary, I say this because the film maker is put directly in
the documentary. He is shown interacting with Michael Jackson as well as interviewing him. The
overall documentary doesnt seem to be scripted including the interviews. At the start of the
documentary there is a montage of Michael Jackson moments with a voice over from the film maker.
The interviews are very informal with Michael Jackson with some taking place in Michael Jacksons

home. This means that the interviews seem more on a personal level with Michael Jackson. Also a
large amount of the documentary is shot with a hand camera. These are all common things found in
an interactive documentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl0uqobeVDM
Reflective
Reflective documentaries show the viewer how the documentary is made. The film maker is a part of
the documentary, providing narrative to the documentary. In a reflective documentary the viewer is
shown every stage of filming the documentary, the film maker acts as a guide in the documentary
narrating throughout. They are also usually shot in a short amount of time (no longer than 2 weeks
usually) and the viewer can usually see the editing meaning that swear words and graphic scenes are
not cut out.
Name (2009) 6 types of documentary. Available at: https://collaborativedocumentary.wordpress.com/6-types-ofdocumentary/ (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-ofdocumentary-conventions (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
Terms, P.I. (2016) Reflexive documentaries. Available at: https://prezi.com/h-xcusa6kgou/reflexivedocumentaries/ (Accessed: 18 April 2016).

This is an example of a reflective documentary because it shows exactly how the documentary was
created and produced through videos of the director editing and filming. This allows the audience to
see how the documentary was made which is common in reflective documentaries. Throughout the
documentary the audience is shown every step of the process the director undertakes including
preparing the film reels, using the camera reel with the projector and overall how the director uses
his equipment. Not only does this show the process of film but it also shows the audience how hard
it is to film and helps bring appreciation to film makers. These are all common things found in
reflective documentaries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ZciIC4JPw

Performative
Performative documentaries acknowledge the emotional and subjective side of documentaries and
address the audience emotionally, often focusing on someone in particular (usually a minority) to
show the audience what it is like to live in their shoes. In performative documentaries the film maker
with interact with the subject as well as the film maker giving comments on the process of making
the documentary. Also this type of documentary often has a narrative of an investigation, many
dont have a satisfactory conclusion. The audience is also addressed emotionally and very directly.
Name (2009) 6 types of documentary. Available at: https://collaborativedocumentary.wordpress.com/6-types-ofdocumentary/ (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-ofdocumentary-conventions (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
15, laurahillll (2012) Clhart. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/laurahillll15/documentary-styles-examples
(Accessed: 18 April 2016).

This is an example of a performative documentary because it attempts to affect the audience

emotionally. In one scene a black couple is shown in an intimate nature to show the viewer that this
is normal and should not be judged. Furthermore the video shows black gay men standing up for
what they believe, showing the bravery and strength these people can have. Also a close up of the
main subject is shown to show you in detail the pain he feels due to the discrimination he faces. This
is accompanied with a voice over of a man saying encouraging words for a new equal life. These are
all things commonly found in performative documentaries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2T0UdNaWlo&playnext=1&list=PL5B1A0AB28ADFDBDA&feat
ure=results_main
Realism
It is difficult to know how real a documentary is as you are not seeing it first-hand. Things in media
can easily be edited, cut out or even manipulated. Some documentaries attempt to show you
something as real as possible. This can be done through little editing (not cutting out swearing or
graphic scenes), not scripted and having the film makers not intervene in anyway. A great example
of this is Big Brother as it features real people and is completely none scripted. However even shows
like this can change things to create more drama or a more interesting watch.
93, guest 798 C. (2008) Girishgk11. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/guest798c93/realism-presentation
(Accessed: 18 April 2016).
Realism Documentary
Realism documentaries are unscripted, real life events. An example of this would be Big Brother, I say this
because it is unscripted and usually filmed live. Very little would be removed through editing and the

documentary tries to make it seem as real as possible. This means that usually there isnt any interviews or
forced filmed encounters thats why in Big Brother they use a Vlog sort of set up to get the people to talk about
what they are feeling to the camera. Even the set in Big Brother is done to make it seem more real as it is done
just like a big house and also the cameras are all hidden so you the viewer can see no evidence of production.
Realism documentaries are done more for entertainment then factual and will usually focus on people who would
be considered average as the audience can relate more to them.
My own definition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjfdLnQCZME

Surface Realism
Surface realism focuses on making the documentary look real. This can include the text with the
location, the setting, props and even the accent used by a character. The idea is that if it sounds and
looks right then it must be right.
93, guest 798 C. (2008) Girishgk11. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/guest798c93/realism-presentation
(Accessed: 18 April 2016).

Inner & Emotional Realism

The audience identifies with the character because the character acts in a realistic manner or shows
an identifiable response or emotion.
93, guest 798 C. (2008) Girishgk11. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/guest798c93/realism-presentation
(Accessed: 18 April 2016).

Dramatisation
Dramatisation is when a real event is recreated using actors and a script. It is used in documentaries
when the event was not filmed but they want to show visually what happened. An example of it
being used can be seen in BBC Crime Watch where crimes are recreated to show the audience
what happened. They can often be biased especially if it is recreating something from history as
there is often little proof to go off.
My own definition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb2w8OHQD2k

Narrativisation
Narrativisation is normally seen or heard in documentaries. It is used as an effective way to address
the audience and tell the documentary/story. Narration can be used to give information to the
audience or further the narrative in a documentary. Narration can be seen in voice overs, recreation
and on screen. Narration is common in most documentaries as it is one of the best ways to talk
directly to the audience. An example of this is David Attenborough as he uses narration in his wildlife
series to give information on the animals and also explain what is going on to the audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhO0GCNSZ_w
My own definiton

References:
Name (2009) 6 types of documentary. Available at: https://collaborativedocumentary.wordpress.com/6-types-ofdocumentary/ (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
amythechooch (2010) Allison Blake. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/amythechooch/modes-ofdocumentary-conventions (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
Morris, M. and profile, V. my complete (2010) Film and media studies at st Gregorys. Available at:
http://filmandmedialevel3.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/a2-film-studies-interactive-documentary_21.html (Accessed: 18
April 2016).
15, laurahillll (2012) Clhart. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/laurahillll15/documentary-styles-examples
(Accessed: 18 April 2016).
Terms, P.I. (2016) Reflexive documentaries. Available at: https://prezi.com/h-xcusa6kgou/reflexivedocumentaries/ (Accessed: 18 April 2016).
93, guest 798 C. (2008) Girishgk11. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/guest798c93/realism-presentation
(Accessed: 18 April 2016).
Kemp, J. (2011) HD95. Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/JakeKemp/documentary-conventions (Accessed:
18 April 2016).