Evolution of Evolution of DocumentaryDocumentary

PenneyPenney

ObjectivesObjectives

Film began with a simple objective, Film began with a simple objective, entertainment.entertainment.

Media desired only to Media desired only to showshow not to not to informinform.. During the 20’s, Grierson changed this, During the 20’s, Grierson changed this,

desiring to educate and socially impact the desiring to educate and socially impact the masses, thus changing film into something masses, thus changing film into something morally constructive to society. morally constructive to society.

InfluencesInfluences

Battleship Potemkin was Battleship Potemkin was a great influence for a great influence for Grierson’s desire for this change, the Soviet Grierson’s desire for this change, the Soviet government’s control of, and educational government’s control of, and educational values of film allowing for this greater unified values of film allowing for this greater unified purpose. This was a great inspiration for purpose. This was a great inspiration for Grierson, and soon attempted to emulate this Grierson, and soon attempted to emulate this change himself.change himself.

First Age of DocumentaryFirst Age of Documentary

Pre-Grierson, the entertainment industry Pre-Grierson, the entertainment industry focused more heavily on simple aesthetics'.focused more heavily on simple aesthetics'.

However, after Grierson embraced the ideal of However, after Grierson embraced the ideal of educational film, the trend was easily picked educational film, the trend was easily picked up, and marked the advent of a much more up, and marked the advent of a much more convenient and accessible medium of convenient and accessible medium of information sharing.information sharing.

This can be seen as a ‘pure’ age of This can be seen as a ‘pure’ age of documentary.documentary.

22ndnd World War and Documentary World War and Documentary

The birth of the Second World War had a The birth of the Second World War had a massive impact on documentary, as it was the massive impact on documentary, as it was the advent of propaganda being used in such a advent of propaganda being used in such a medium.medium.

This tactic was employed heavily by both This tactic was employed heavily by both sides of the conflict, one of the most famous sides of the conflict, one of the most famous being the Nazi parties, being the Nazi parties, Triumph des WillensTriumph des Willens which was a large draw of Nazi support.which was a large draw of Nazi support.

Constant evolutionConstant evolution

Since the war, documentary has continued to Since the war, documentary has continued to be used in such a way as to affect and be used in such a way as to affect and manipulate the viewers into acting or thinking manipulate the viewers into acting or thinking differently. differently.

As technology advanced so did this level of As technology advanced so did this level of control, with techniques such as subliminal control, with techniques such as subliminal messaging being introduced to quickly and messaging being introduced to quickly and effectively impact audiences, in addition to effectively impact audiences, in addition to societies increasing media dependancy. societies increasing media dependancy.

Social ImpactsSocial Impacts

Documentary has an advantage over other Documentary has an advantage over other forms of visual media when it comes to forms of visual media when it comes to highlighting social issues.highlighting social issues.

This comes from it’s portrayal of anything This comes from it’s portrayal of anything from poverty, to minority groups whilst from poverty, to minority groups whilst appearing un-biased, factual and genuine.appearing un-biased, factual and genuine.

This garners empathy from viewers without This garners empathy from viewers without the documenter/s having to relinquish the the documenter/s having to relinquish the advantage of staging all the action shown.advantage of staging all the action shown.

DistributionDistribution

The increasing access to shared media via television The increasing access to shared media via television and internet birthed new opportunities for and internet birthed new opportunities for documentary as they could now be marketed to documentary as they could now be marketed to worldwide audiences at any of time of the day.worldwide audiences at any of time of the day.

This allows for more freedom of influence to the This allows for more freedom of influence to the minds of the worlds media consumers, feeding our minds of the worlds media consumers, feeding our media dependency and promoting documentary as a media dependency and promoting documentary as a recognised, legitimate form of research and recognised, legitimate form of research and information gathering.information gathering.