What is a Documentary?

Documentary – n. a book movie etc. that presents a purportedly factual report
*Webster’s Pocket Dictionary 2002 Edition

I think a documentary is more complex than Webster’s definition.

I would define a documentary as a media that presents a non-fictional story to an audience. A documentary has a purpose or a goal; telling someone’s story, giving voice to a minority, introducing a new perspective to an issue, or informing an audience about a topic.

A documentary incorporates music, pictures, video clips, emotion, camera angle, lighting and other techniques to enhance the story at hand. John Grierson, the man who studied media influence on public opinion and coined the term “documentary,” defined “documentary” as “creative treatment of actuality” (source). Think about the documentary we watched in class, A Class Divided. This film was about informing children (and the public) about the stereotypes present in the world, and the negative attitudes and behaviors they can create. Many people know about racial stereotypes and segregation, but by using young children to demonstrate how giving a little bit of power to a group of people can create negativity and “evil” in a matter of hours and days, I think the point was really driven home. It may have changed the perspectives of several people, or at least encouraged them to consider their perspectives on racial stereotypes.

Many documentaries on television, especially the history channel, are informative. Those wonderful series about the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln’s term as president that my dad loves to watch are informative pieces. They serve to increase the understanding of history as we know it.

In the “Immigration” episode of 30 Days, Morgan Spurlock presented the story of a legal immigrant living with an illegal immigrant family for thirty days. He did not tell his viewers what to think. He showed us the events of the thirty days, and the discussions the people had with each other. We were presented with information and allowed to draw our own conclusions from the scenes we witnessed. I think Spurlock strives to inform people of the important issues in America today. Even if the viewers do not take a strong stance on the issues, they are at least (hopefully) more informed about them.

On the other hand, Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 is a biased and emotionally-charged documentary in many respects. Moore does not try to hide his negative feelings toward President George Bush. He takes every moment he gets to rip on Bush and lets the audience know what a fool he thinks Bush is.

I think documentaries are important forms of media. They shed light on many issues for many people who may have been unaware of the events. They encourage people to think about a topic, or take a look at an alternative perspective. They ultimately serve to increase a person’s understanding of the world and the present issues driving every-day life.