This reading (Links to an external site.) is taken from Bill Nichol’s seminal book Introduction to Documentary which articulates the different modes of documentary. (This reading (Links to an external site.) outlines each mode in different sections. Vanessa (thanks) pointed out that the other reading doesn’t cover Poetic and Expository in its own section – You don’t have to read or reference this one if you’ve already done this part of the assessment.) Narrowing it down to these modes can be seen as reductive but definitely a good way to look at documentary as long as you don’t see this as the only way. This reading (Links to an external site.) is a quick summary. Choose one mode and describe its hallmarks and why you might like to work in that way. This, and the following two prompts will prime your thinking for documentary production in future semesters
According to Bill Nichol’s seminal book Introduction to documentary, there are six modes of representation in documentary film and video that function something like sub-genres of the documentary genre itself: poetic, expository, participatory, observational, reflexive, and performative. From those six types of modes of documentary that Nichols presented, I might want to work between observational and participatory mode. But I can see myself more making the participatory mode documentary in the future. Bill Nichols described observational mode of documentary as “a series of ethical considerations that involve the act of observing others go about their affairs”. I personally think that observational documentary is more like a life storytelling. It attempts to capture objective reality and there is no visible influence from the filmmaker.
While participatory mode of documentary involves the subject to participate with the filmmaker rather than observes the subject. Interviews is one of the common examples of participatory interaction. So, the filmmaker will set up an interview and asks the subject several specific questions in order to hear their side of the story. According to Bill Nichols (2001), “The researcher goes into the field, participates in the lives of others, gains a corporeal or visceral feel for what life in a given context is like, and then reflects on this experience, using the tool and methods of anthropology or sociology to do so.” The study of anthropology is common in participatory documentaries because the filmmaker not only interacts with the subject such by living among a people for a period of time but also observe them and study. Many documentary filmmakers believe that the participatory mode is the true cinema verite or film truth. Some examples of this style of documentary filmmaking include Chronicle of a summer (1967) and Ross Mcelwee’s Photographic Memory. Chronicle of a summer (1967) is a 1961 French documentary film shot during the summer of 1960 by sociologist Edgar Morin and anthropologist and filmmaker Jean Rouch. In the film, they talk at length about politics, arguing on film and street interviews is used where people talk about their experiences and ambitions, and most notably, whether or not they are happy. The documentary begins with a market researcher, Marceline, on the street, asking a simple question, “Are you happy?”. I personally think this is a great example of participatory documentary and it is an amazing study of varied perceptions as the filmmaker captures how things are perceived by the on-camera subjects themselves.
Although, I find it interesting to work in a observational mode of documentary but I feel like participatory mode of documentary would suit me better. The reason why I might like to work in participatory mode of documentary is because I’d love to go into the field, living with them, and filming reflections on my experience of living with them. Also, I agree that living with them can be a very valuable experience. Aside from that, I also want to hear the story from their perspectives (by asking them several questions) and I want to document reality as real and as truthfully as possible so that the audience can feel the emotions and feel like they are a part of it. For me personally, participatory documentary is very interesting and engaging the audience compared to other modes.
References:
Nichols, B 2010, Introduction to Documentary, 2nd ed., Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN, pp. 179-194.
Veronica Onggoro 