revising documentary 2012

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Revising Documentary 2012 SPECTATORSHIP SPECTATORSHIP

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Page 1: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

SPECTATORSHIPSPECTATORSHIP

Page 2: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

Analyse scenes using micro analysis

Prove you've seen the films!

Use PEE structure

Director and year

Explore the question

It isn't just about whether we believe it or not (that is too simplistic)

It is an exam about spectatorship so you need to bring in ideas about this

General Advice

Page 3: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

1) Compare different documentary techniques employed to present the 'real', discussing their impact on the spectator. Refer to at least two documentaries you have studied.

2) Do you agree that as spectators we are more likely to accept at face value what we see and hear in documentary films?

3) How far is it preferable as a spectator to be presented with a documentary that offers a very definite point of view towards its subject? Refer to the films you have studied for this topic.

4) ‘For the spectator, the viewing of documentary films is really no different from that of viewing fiction films.’ With reference to the films you have studied for this topic, how far do you agree with this view?

5) ‘Watching real people and real events in documentaries creates a very particular relationship between the spectator and the screen.’ How far has this been your experience of the films you have studied for this topic?

6) ‘The best documentaries are the ones that make their point of view clear.’ How far do you agree?

7) With reference to the films you have studied for this topic,how far can it be said that different kinds of documentaries offer different kinds of spectator experiences?

8) ‘Documentaries should never be trusted.’ How important to the spectator is the sense that they should trust the documentary filmmaker? Refer to the films you have studied for this topic.

Page 4: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

Question:

Which is most relevant scene/moment to use to answer this question. Put them in order of relevance (1 being the most, 4 being the least)

Reason for choice 1

Compare different documentary techniques employed to present the 'real', discussing their impact on the spectator. Refer to at least two documentaries you have studied.

Talking head of Philip Petit discussing when the police told him to come down.

Reenactment of young Petit as a street entertainer.

Annie recalls the beauty of the moment when she looks up to see Petit on the wire.

Reenactment of the twin towers break-in

1 2 3 4

Page 5: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

Question:

Which is most relevant scene/moment to use to answer this question. Put them in order of relevance (1 being the most, 4 being the least)

Reason for choice 1

‘For the spectator, the viewing of documentary films is really no different from that of viewing fiction films.’

Archive photos reveals the crowd below in awe at the wire walk.

Jean-Louis breaks down with emotion when recalling the breakdown of the friendship.

Archive footage shows Petit being arrested.

Present day - Petit demonstrates he is still a skillful wire walker.

5 6 7 8

Page 6: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

Question:

‘Documentaries should never be trusted.’ How important to the spectator is the sense that they should trust the documentary filmmaker? Refer to the films you have studied for this topic.

What key moments/scenes would be the most relevant to use?

Page 7: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

In Grizzlyman the scene with the coroner demonstrates Herzog's use of the 'set-up' to tell the story he wants.

The talking heads are clever devices which allow the spectator to feel the enthusiasm of the protagonist. The close up, coupled with the gregarious body language of Petit's make us feel his passion.

The rapid cutting and cartoon voices of the animated 'brief history of America' montage add to the comedic effect resulting in the spectator finding it easy to mock the politics of the left in the same way Moore does.

Correctionsthis should say

Grizzly Man

this should say Medium Close up

this should say Right

Page 8: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

3 QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

1) How similar are non-fiction films to fiction films?

2) What is Herzog's POV in Grizzly Man?

3) Why are we more likely to accept what a documentary shows us?

Page 9: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

Write an introduction to one of the questions.

This should answer the question in some way and

immediately show a good grasp of the topic.

Introductions?

Page 10: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

In Grizzly Man on of the techniques that Herzog employs is the construction of a 'staged scene'. We cut to a long shot of the coroner where he stands almost as if waiting for his cue on stage. He begins to narrate, through direct address, the mauling of Treadwell and his girlfriend, Amy. His tone and body language is theatrical and as the camera creeps closer to his sympathetic face, it becomes quite clear that the story is embellished. These include details of how Amy remained loyal and did not run away. Suddenly he ceases talking and in dramatic fashion, the camera tracks back leaving us to think about and imagine the horror of the situation. This leads me to question Herzog's intentions here. I can only conclude that the obvious and purposeful fictionalization of the 'evidence' is to offer me a version of the 'truth' The filmmaker doesn't attempt to hide the obvious artifice behind this scene and this forces the spectator to confront their own ideas of the purpose of a documentary.

Compare different documentary techniques employed to present the 'real', discussing their impact on the spectator. Refer to at least two documentaries you have studied.

Page 11: Revising documentary 2012

Revising Documentary 2012

Reflecting on Documentary

1) Does it matter that Moore manipulates us?

2) Do we have to like the subject to like the film?

3) Does it matter if some scenes are staged?

4) Is archive material enough in Senna?