Genre Analysis: Type of documentaries

• Fully Narrated

A voice over is used to convey the exposition. The voice over is used to make sense of the visuals and dominates their meaning e.g. natural history documentaires.

• Fly on the wall

Draws on the French film movement cinema Vertie. The camera is unseen or ignored and simply records real events as they unfold.

• Mixed

A combination of interview, observation, actuality footage, archive material and narration to advance the argument/narrative.

• Self- Reflexive

When the subject of the documentary acknowledges the presence of the camera and often speaks directly to the programme maker.

• Docudrama

Re-enactment of events

• Docusoap

Documentary and soap opera. A group of central protagonists.

Structure of documentaries

Narrative documentaires

Open- loose ends which are not tied up at the end. Questions left unanswered.

VS

• Closed- there is a definite conclusion to the narrative
• Linear- follows chronological order

VS

• Non linear- not in time order e.g. flashback or flashforward
• Circular- start and end point the same. Usually are open.

Visuals

Television is a visual medium. The programme needs to be visually stimulating and maintain the audiences interest. It is up to the makers to make informative programmes interesting.

Archive Material

Street scenes, open countryside, close ups of faces and still images = stock footage

Interviews

An interview can be held anywere. But the setting does effect the meaning (mise-en-scene).

Vox Pop ( vox populis) - Voice of the people

Ask one question to several people and pick out the most entertaining answers. Good at getting a representive sample of the audience

Construction of reality

Reality artificially constructed

Gatekeeping

Selects facts and information and rejects unimportant footage. Basically the selection and rejection of content for inclusion in a media text. The editing process is were gatekeeping happens e.g. chopping up interviews

Voiceover

Can affect and alter meanings. It anchors the meaning of the visuals. Acts as glue to hold teh narrative of the documentary together.

Propaganda

Advertises and influences audience.