Documentary Genre (By Zoe Woodstock)

As with any production of a film, we thought it was necessary to research the various genres and modes to improve our documentary. Genre is the type of text being connoted to the audience. This topic is one of the principal factors in product differentiation. Documentaries are separated from fiction films because they portray real life situations and issues to create awareness in the audience or to entertain them. However the main aim in representing a documentary is the authenticity of the evidence. Furthermore the information must also be understandable of which a commentary may be added to aid. Documentaries can sometimes alter people’s opinions or attitudes to particular topics that are being focused on. Documentaries attempt to document reality but due to mediation the veracity of the finished product may be decreased. It is impossible for edited images to be completely factual and the input of the producer's thesis can increase the bias of the product. The specific moral or political view from which an idea is established makes the documentary subjective. Perhaps, to misquote Eco, the objectivity of the text lies not in the origin but the destination?There are many purposes of documentary. A simple recording of events such as a holiday video or polemic texts that evoke argumentative views (Bowling For Columbine) can both be categorised as documentaries. The audience must recognize the purpose early on to decode text differently to fictional narratives and this enhances the importance of the title.

I researched into the ideas of Steven Neale, a professor of philosophy and linguistics. Steve Neale believes that 'genres are instances of repetition and difference'. He stated that 'genres are processes of systematisation' and not systems themselves. He agrees with genres always being historically relative and that they may also help to shape moral values.
















Adapted from:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/intgenre/intgenre1.html 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Neale
http://www.slideshare.net/crosswaysfederation/types-of-documentory