Instructions: Write one to two paragraphs in response BOTH parts 1 and 2, as this chapter covers two topics.
PART 1: Documentary (pick 1 or 2 of these, ones that are relevant for the film you chose from the list)
If you had to pick documentary types to classify your film, what would you choose? Refer to specific documentary styles and formats covered in the reading/lecture. What are the traits that seem to line up with the types you have identified?
Do you think that the filmmaker was ethical in presenting the information in the way that she/he did? Do you believe that a different form would have resulted in a more or less ethical project?
Does the film present a small story with larger significance in a “slice of life” stylistic way? If so, what is the bigger point being made?
In what ways does the film utilize visual information as evidence, commonly seen in expository documentaries? How do musical scores, voice-overs, or subtitles impact your impression of what you see?
How does the film privilege evidentiary logic over narrative? How does the documentary edit for proving points rather than driving a narrative forward (continuity)?
PART 2: Experimental Documentary
There’s a reason these two topics are in the same chapter. They overlap significantly. For this part of your discussion post, explain how your documentary film has experimental qualities, specific qualities from the readings/lecture (your post should mention categories and artistic approaches from the course materials. I encourage you to think creatively in this regard. Here are a few facets to consider but applying any notations about the experimental film from the chapter will work fine. Warning: do not rely on “the personal” (this will make more sense when/if you’ve read) as your only way of seeing the film as experimental. Link the film’s qualities to specific experimental features explained in the book and/or lecture.
If you had to pick a type, or types, to classify your film, what would you choose?
Experimental films tend to push narrative aside in favor of exploring ineffable things like thoughts, dreams, ideas, forms. What is being explored in the film that you chose? How did the filmmaker use film style to delve into that topic beyond typical documentary methods?
Looking at the main differences between experimental and mainstream films (see my lecture, look for the image from Marley and Me, and the preceding slide), explain how the documentary typically experimental in its overall approach?
Pick ONE from the two following list:
Grizzly Man, The Wolfpack, The Stories We Tell, Jim & Andy, The Act of Killing, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Hale County This Morning This Evening, Conversation with a Killer, Strong Island, OR
Minding the Gap (Hulu)
Personal rec: Minding the Gap (Brilliant, important, relevant, & relatable.)
