Documentary mini task

Documentary mini task

A documentary is a wide term used to describe a non-fiction movie that in some way "documents" or captures reality. Documentary makers are often inspired to make their films because they feel a particular story or viewpoint is not being covered by mainstream media the way it should be. The way i would define the word “Documentary” is by using the words factual and educational. Documentaries are films that are factual and are educational meaning they teach the viewer information about important life events for example a documentary that covers the events of a world war.

The key features of Expository documentaries are that they give the narrator the role to explain the film's rhetorical content. They use stories and statements given through voiceover with images to illustrate the tone of the film. The filmmaker collects footage that functions to strengthen the spoken narrative.

 One example of an expository documentary is “City of gold”.

The Key features of Observational documentaries are that they avoid interviews, voice-over narration and a soundtrack. Instead they present footage of real life as it unfolds. The effect is a documentary that tends to show, not tell, and leaves it down to each viewer to come to his or her own conclusions of the film.

An example of an observational documentary is “knuckle”.

The Key feature of Interactive documentaries are that they use interviews. When including these interviews in the documentaries they may decide to keep the interviewer’s questions in or edit them out.

An example of an Interactive documentary is “prison valley”.


The key features of reflexive documentaries are that they include the filmmaker within the film. They also solely focus on themselves and the act of making of the film.

An example of a reflexive documentary is “Chronicle of a summer”

The Key features of Performative Documentaries are that they focus on the filmmakers' involvement with his or her subject, they use his or her personal experience or relationship with the subject as a starting point for exploring larger, subjective truths about politics, history, or groups of people.

One example of a performative documentary is “supersize me”.

Expository Documentaries are my favourite. Observational documentaries are the most unbiased because they leave the viewer to conclude the documentary for themselves. I do feel like documentary producers have a contract with the viewer to show them honest and unbiased, accurate information. The reason for me feeling this way is because Documentaries are known for being educational and informative.