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The Documentary Film
Term Paper # 115497
The Documentary Film
A discussion on documentary films and Bill Nichols' system of modes.
1,301 words (approx. 5.2 pages) |
3 sources |
APA | 2009
Paper Summary:
The paper discusses the value of Bill Nichols' system of documentary modes and outlines the "Poetic Mode", "The Observational Mode", and "The Participatory Mode". The paper shows how not all of his modes fit exactly into a neat category. The paper also explains why viewers place faith in documentaries, more so than other formats and then shows why a good, ethical documentary can engender tangible change.Outline:
The Value of Nichols' System of Documentary Modes
Why Viewers Place Faith in Documentaries - More So than Other Formats
The Assumption is that a Good, Ethical Documentary can "Engender Tangible Change."
From the Paper:
"The value first of all is in the fact that Nichols' system puts a microscope on the topic of documentaries. Nichols slows down the process of how critics and reviewers tell the movie-going public about certain films that are non-fiction films. Nichols attempts to break the discussion down into sections (components) that people can understand."For example, the Nichols' "Poetic Mode" offers clarification that this form of documentary is probably what people would call "arty." That is, it will be slow and maybe dull. And historical material will probably be in this documentary, and it will be done in a "lyrical form, usually associated with the 1920s and modernist ideas," according to Nichols. Right there is value because if a teacher, for example, is looking for an interesting documentary to show to high school students, and that teacher has a copy of Nichols' Introduction to Documentary, he or she will definitely avoid a documentary that has "Poetic Mode" written on it by reviewers."
Sample of Sources Used:
- Ebert, Roger. 2005. No Direction Home: Bob Dylan / Bob Dylan: Reluctant Icon. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.rogerebert.com.
- Massachusetts School of Law. 2006. The Future of Food: What Every Person Should Know withDeborah Garcia. Retrieved April 20, 2008, from http://www.mslaw.edu.
- Nichols, Bill. 2001. Introduction to Documentary. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
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Cite this paper
APA Citation:
The Documentary Film (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 10, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-The-Documentary-Film/115497
MLA Citation:
"The Documentary Film" 15 January 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. <http://www.academon.com/Term-Paper-The-Documentary-Film/115497>
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