Documentary Mini-task

A documentary is a short film about a certain subject although documentaries can be long.

Expository documentaries expose a person or topic.

They usually include: 

-A commentator throughout

-Facts and opinions

-Persuasive techniques

-Rhetorical questions

An example of an expository documentary would be 'Nanook of the North'

Observational documentaries are when a documentary maker follows someone or something around to observe the events that happen in their life.

They usually include:

-Hand-held cameras

-Long takes

-Synchronous sound

-No voiceover or interviews 

An example would be '16 and Pregnant'

Interactive documentaries are an experience that gives the audience an active roll.

They usually include:

-The filmmaker’s point of view

-Immediacy

An example of an interactive documentary would be 'Bear 71'

Reflexive documentaries are when a filmmaker acknowledges their presence in front of the camera and provides a narrative.

They usually include:

-A film crew

-Hand-held cameras

-A filmmaker who narrates as well as being in the documentary.

An example of a reflexive documentary would be ‘Louis and the Nazis’

Performative documentaries acknowledge the emotional and subjective aspects of a documentary and address the audience emotionally.

They might include hypothetical enactments of events designed to make us experience what it might be like for us to posses a specific perspective on the world.

An example of a performative documentary would be 'Marlon Riggs' Tongues Untied'
Dramatisations are used in documentaries that are prejudice or bias, they are used to exaggerate a certain view. We can expect an exaggeration built up in a documentary and a bias opinion on a certain view.

I don’t think it is always necessary to present accurate and factual information, although it does depend on the style of documentary and what the documentary is about. If it isn’t too serious a bit of humour makes the documentary more interesting.