POST 6

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CRITICISMS OF
THE 6
DOCUMETNTARY
MODES
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WHAT ARE THE MODES?

The six documentary modes were theorized by Bill Nichols

He believed you could categories documentaries into one of the

following six modes:
Poetic

Observational

Reflexive

Expositional

Participatory

Performative
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STELLA BRUZZI

Stella Bruzzi is a scholar of film and media studies

She is one of many who have criticised Nichols way of attempting to

categorise documentaries

She said that it is impossible to break down a documentary into six

categories

In a documentary, two or more modes can be present at the same time, one
can be dominant, one can be subordinate.

Nichols argued that the various modes make a documentary more

authentic. Bruzzis reply to this was that documentary makers shouldn't
bother worrying about being authentic and instead should focus on the
footage being captured.
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JOHN GRIERSON

John Grierson is viewed by many to be the founding father of documentary.

He saw documentary as a method of social democracy, allowing people to

see social conditions that would otherwise be hidden from them.

He therefore viewed documentary as representing the real in its purest and

rawest form.

Grierson has criticised the modes of Bill Nichols as he claims that

attempting to choose a documentary mode takes away the very essence of
representing reality, as documentary makers are constantly restricted in
what to film and how to film it as a result of choosing a mode to work with.
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Other criticisms

Other documentary makers and analysts have criticised the six

modes of Bill Nichols; but have also mentioned that while the
modes are not entirely accurate, they can shed light on filming
techniques.

Some argue that even though it is inaccurate to think of these

modes as historical representations of the evolution of
documentary style - as it is wrong to interpret them as being
mutually exclusives - they can help understanding the values
and problematics attached to various techniques commonly
used by documentary filmmakers.
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Steve Barnett

Steve Barnett invented the theory of disney-fication when talking about modern
documentary making.

He argues that documentary makers are dumbing down their films for less intelligent
audiences how are interested in shallow entertainment as opposed to delving into the real.

He says that producers are now only concerned with ratings and making more money as
opposed to highlighting important issues and that modern documentaries are cheap and
easy.

A prime example of this is the extremely popular show, keeping up with the Kardashians
which follows a rich family as they dramatise their lives for entertainment.

As a result of this new style of documentary, serious documentary makers have moved back
to cinema to showcase their work as well as entire online websites and forums dedicated to
real and serious documentary films.
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Ethics

Any filmmaker who sets out to make a documentary faces multiple challenges,
not the least of which is a set of ethical issues inherent in the process.

This includes how to portray the subjects of the film, what to shoot and what not
to shoot, and how to edit so that the film is true to its topic and subjects, yet also
works as a compelling story for the audiences.

If a filmmaker is working in a foreign country or culture it also raises the issue of

how to represent people with dignity and sensitivity to that place, time and
experience.

This can make it difficult for documentary makers as they face constant
dilemmas of what is right to be included in the film and what should be
scrapped. Finding the balance between documenting the real and showing
sensitivity to events can be hard for film makers.