DOCUMENTARY MODES

Bill Nichols

• Addresses the viewer directly to advance argument or recount history

• Subjected and often polemical• Characterized by hidden,

authoritative, ‘omniscient’ narrator, whose voice is supported by images rather than the other way round.

• Criticisms: Overly didactic and ‘Preachy’

Expository Mode

• Events observed and recorded by ‘objectivity’ with no authorial intrusion

• Often called the ‘fly on the wall’ documentary as it is just pure footage and no voice over

• Criticism: Lacks History and Context

Observational Mode

• Film maker appears in their documentary, interviewing and expressing views to the camera (contrasting against the expository mode)

• Polemical • A good example is Michael Moore’s

documentary• Criticism: Too intrusive and one sided.

Participatory Mode

• The documentary frequently reflects on it’s own artificially, drawing attention too this

• Criticism: Too artificial

Reflexive Mode

• A much more personal approach than participatory mode, the individual film maker tells their own story

• Often political – Stories told by members of minority groups

• Criticism: Too abstract, lose sight of actual issues.

Performative Mode