Art of Cinema ~ Spring 2013_files/Documentary%28TuW%29_website
Art of Cinema ~ Spring 2013_files/Documentary%28TuW%29_website
Art of Cinema ~ Spring 2013_files/Documentary%28TuW%29_website
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Documentary Film<br />
I don't know how to play chess, but to me, life is like a game <strong>of</strong> chess.!<br />
! ! ! !!<br />
! ! ! ~ Thierry Guetta, Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)!
Documentary Film<br />
! A documentary is a representation <strong>of</strong> the historical world. !<br />
! Documentary films aim to present the spectator with factual<br />
information about the world we occupy. !<br />
! In general, documentaries seek to make a rhetorical argument.<br />
They are constructed to convince, persuade, or predispose the<br />
spectator to a particular view <strong>of</strong> the historical world.!<br />
Crumb (1993)! One Day in September (1999) !
Bowling for Columbine (2002)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! A documentary is a representation <strong>of</strong> the historical world. !<br />
! Documentary films aim to present the spectator with factual<br />
information about the world we occupy. !<br />
! In general, documentaries seek to make a rhetorical argument.<br />
They are constructed to convince, persuade, or predispose the<br />
spectator to a particular view <strong>of</strong> the historical world.!<br />
Source arguments !<br />
!<br />
The films arguments will rely !<br />
on what are taken to be reliable!<br />
sources <strong>of</strong> information (experts, !<br />
or people assumed to be!<br />
knowledgeable on the subject).!
The Corporation (2003)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! A documentary is a representation <strong>of</strong> the historical world. !<br />
! Documentary films aim to present the spectator with factual<br />
information about the world we occupy. !<br />
! In general, documentaries seek to make a rhetorical argument.<br />
They are constructed to convince, persuade, or predispose the<br />
spectator to a particular view <strong>of</strong> the historical world.!<br />
Subject-centered arguments!<br />
!<br />
The film appeals to common !<br />
beliefs about its subject. The !<br />
film will provide examples to !<br />
support its point, and will back !<br />
up its arguments by exploiting !<br />
familiar, easily accepted !<br />
argumentative patterns.!
Into the Arms <strong>of</strong> Strangers (2000)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! A documentary is a representation <strong>of</strong> the historical world. !<br />
! Documentary films aim to present the spectator with factual<br />
information about the world we occupy. !<br />
! In general, documentaries seek to make a rhetorical argument.<br />
They are constructed to convince, persuade, or predispose the<br />
spectator to a particular view <strong>of</strong> the historical world.!<br />
!<br />
Viewer-centered arguments!<br />
!<br />
The film may make an!<br />
argument that appeals to !<br />
the emotions <strong>of</strong> the viewer.!
!<br />
1. Poetic !<br />
2. Expository!<br />
3. Observational!<br />
4. Participatory!<br />
5. Reflexive!<br />
6. Performative!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! There are six modes <strong>of</strong> documentary representation:!<br />
Marwencol (2010)!<br />
! These modes establish a loose framework within which<br />
documentary filmmakers may work.!<br />
! The characteristics <strong>of</strong> a given mode provide structure<br />
to the overall film, but they do not dictate every aspect<br />
<strong>of</strong> its organization.!
The Poetic Mode!<br />
Song <strong>of</strong> Ceylon (1934)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! The poetic mode stresses the lyrical, rhythmic, and emotional<br />
aspect <strong>of</strong> the historical world (sharing common ground with the<br />
avant-garde). !<br />
! This mode sacrifices filmic conventions like continuity editing and<br />
a situated time and space, to explore associations between images,<br />
objects and patterns.!<br />
Spiegel van Holland (1950)!
Regen<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Directed by !<br />
Joris Ivens!<br />
!<br />
Writtend by !<br />
Mannus Franken !<br />
& Joris Ivens!<br />
!<br />
Independent,!<br />
(1929) 12 mins.!<br />
!
The Expository Mode!<br />
! The expository mode addresses the spectator directly, with titles or<br />
voices that propose a perspective, advance an argument, or recount<br />
history. This mode <strong>of</strong> direct address is called a voice-<strong>of</strong>-God narration. !<br />
! Editing in the expository mode serves to maintain the continuity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
spoken argument/perspective. This is called evidentiary editing.!<br />
March <strong>of</strong> the Penguins (2005)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! Expository documentary facilitates generalization, large-scale<br />
argumentation, and <strong>of</strong>ten display a sense <strong>of</strong> bias towards their subject<br />
matter.!
The Expository Mode!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! The expository mode addresses the spectator directly, with titles or<br />
voices that propose a perspective, advance an argument, or recount<br />
history. This mode <strong>of</strong> direct address is called a voice-<strong>of</strong>-God narration. !<br />
! Editing in the expository mode serves to maintain the continuity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
spoken argument/perspective. This is called evidentiary editing.!<br />
Triumph des willens (1935)! Le sang des bêtes (1949)!<br />
! Expository documentary facilitates generalization, large-scale<br />
argumentation, and <strong>of</strong>ten display a sense <strong>of</strong> bias towards their subject<br />
matter.!
Documentary Film<br />
Why We Fight: Prelude to War<br />
Directed by !<br />
Frank Capra!<br />
!<br />
Written by !<br />
Philip & Julian<br />
Epstein!<br />
!<br />
War Activities,!<br />
(1942) 53 mins.!<br />
!
The Observational Mode!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! Observational films attempt to observe aspects <strong>of</strong> the historical<br />
world as they happen.!<br />
! These films typically have no voice-over commentary, no<br />
supplementary music or sound, no intertitles, no historical<br />
reenactments, no behavior repeated for the camera, and no<br />
interviews.!<br />
Primary (1960)! Titicut Follies (1967)!
The Observational Mode!<br />
! In observational documentary, the social actors engage<br />
with one another as if the filmmakers were not there. !<br />
! This requires the spectator to take a much more active role<br />
in determining the significance <strong>of</strong> what is said and done<br />
on-screen. !<br />
Gimme Shelter (1970)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
1) We develop a stronger sense !<br />
<strong>of</strong> identification with social !<br />
actors.!<br />
2) Unlike fiction films, we realize !<br />
these are real people, and take !<br />
greater care in forming !<br />
assumptions about them.!
Salesman<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Directed by !<br />
Albert & David<br />
Maysles!<br />
!<br />
Maysles Films,!<br />
(1968) 85 mins.!<br />
!
! In general, documentaries raise a number <strong>of</strong> different<br />
questions about its subjects/subject matter:!<br />
! 1. Is documentary voyeuristic? !<br />
! 2. Do people conduct themselves differently when a camera !<br />
crew is filming? !<br />
! 3. When does a filmmaker have the right to intervene?!<br />
Hearts <strong>of</strong> Darkness (1991)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Spellbound (2002)!
Documentary Film<br />
! In general, documentaries raise a number <strong>of</strong> different<br />
questions about its subjects/subject matter:!<br />
! 1. Is documentary voyeuristic? !<br />
! 2. Do people conduct themselves differently when a camera !<br />
crew is filming? !<br />
! 3. When does a filmmaker have the right to intervene?!<br />
Grey Gardens (1975)!
Documentary Film<br />
! In general, documentaries raise a number <strong>of</strong> different<br />
questions about its subjects/subject matter:!<br />
! 1. Is documentary voyeuristic? !<br />
! 2. Do people conduct themselves differently when a camera !<br />
crew is filming? !<br />
! 3. When does a filmmaker have the right to intervene?!<br />
Hoop Dreams (1994)! Paradise Lost (1996)!
The Participatory Mode!<br />
! Participatory documentary calls for some form <strong>of</strong> participation from<br />
the filmmaker, in addition to the social actors. !<br />
! These films give us a sense <strong>of</strong> what it is like for the filmmaker to be in a<br />
given situation, and how that situation alters as a result. !<br />
! Participatory documentaries also make use <strong>of</strong> the interview, allowing<br />
the filmmaker to address people who appear in the film formally,<br />
rather than address the audience through voice-over commentary. !<br />
Harlan County U.S.A. (1976)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Fast, Cheap, & Out <strong>of</strong> Control (1997)!
Roger & Me<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Directed by !<br />
Michael Moore!<br />
!<br />
Dog Eat Dog,!<br />
(1989) 89 mins.!<br />
!
The Reflexive Mode!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! Unlike the previous four modes, the reflexive mode positions the<br />
spectator as the focus <strong>of</strong> attention.!<br />
! These films set out to readjust the assumptions and expectations <strong>of</strong> its<br />
audience, not add new knowledge to existing categories. !<br />
! The reflexive mode relies on techniques that attempt to jar us, and<br />
sever our engagement with the film so that we are forced to think<br />
about filmmaking as a construct. !<br />
…no lies (1974)! Surname Viet, Given Name Nam (1980)!
Las Hurdes<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Directed by !<br />
Luis Buñuel!<br />
!<br />
Written by !<br />
Luis Buñuel &<br />
Raphael Sánchez<br />
Ventura!<br />
!<br />
Independent,!<br />
(1933) 30 mins.!<br />
!
The Reflexive Mode!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! Las Hurdes uses documentary techniques to call into question the<br />
ethics <strong>of</strong> certain forms <strong>of</strong> documentary filmmaking that we as<br />
spectators tend to accept.!<br />
The film manipulates our perception <strong>of</strong> the Hurdanos with its narration. !<br />
! The expository style (evidentiary editing, voice-<strong>of</strong>-god) lends<br />
credibility to the notion that we are seeing an attempt to document a<br />
trip to a small mountain town. !<br />
! We are jarred from the story as the narrator begins to abuse this trust. !
The Reflexive Mode!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! Las Hurdes uses documentary techniques to call into question the<br />
ethics <strong>of</strong> certain forms <strong>of</strong> documentary filmmaking that we as<br />
spectators tend to accept.!<br />
The gunshot causes us to question the validity <strong>of</strong> the images.!<br />
! The images in the film seem to be subordinate to the voice-over.!<br />
! The scene with the goat, however, is an example <strong>of</strong> how these<br />
images are subverted in the film.!
The Reflexive Mode!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
! Las Hurdes uses documentary techniques to call into question the<br />
ethics <strong>of</strong> certain forms <strong>of</strong> documentary filmmaking that we as<br />
spectators tend to accept.!<br />
The gunshot causes us to question the validity <strong>of</strong> the images.!<br />
! The images in the film seem to be subordinate to the voice-over.!<br />
! The scene with the goat, however, is an example <strong>of</strong> how these<br />
images are subverted in the film.!
The Performative Mode!<br />
! Performative documentary stresses the emotional complexity <strong>of</strong><br />
experience from the perspective <strong>of</strong> the filmmaker.!<br />
! These films primarily address the spectator through tones and moods,<br />
more so than arguments and evidence, and call for an emotional<br />
responsiveness from us that acknowledges an understanding <strong>of</strong> the<br />
event, more so than asking us to gain knowledge from it!<br />
Tongues Untied (1990)!<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Bontoc Eulogy (1995)!
I Am A Sex Addict<br />
Documentary Film<br />
Written & Directed by !<br />
Caveh Zahedi!<br />
!<br />
IFC Films,!<br />
(2005) 98 mins.!<br />
!
Change language