What kinds of documentaries are there?
From Bill Nichols, Chapter 6
Consider the different kinds of modes your documentary might have. The different modes reflect different rhetorical goals of a documentary.
What are “rhetorical goals” of a text?
The Poetic Mode: Stresses mood, tone, and affect much more than displays of knowledge or acts of persuasion. Opens up possibilities for alternative forms of knowledge to the straightforward transfer or information or particular arguments.
Example: Folk Song for Five Points
The Expository Mode: Addresses the viewer directly. Voice-of-God commentary. Emphasizes the impression of objectivity and well-supported argument.
Example: Lions on the Field
The Observational Mode: Little direct intervention.
Example: Pittsburgh Signs Project, Hometown Baghdad
The Participatory Mode: Author has a bodily presence in the “scene.” The documentary is mediated through the engagement of the author.
Example: Agee
The Reflexive Mode: The author actively reflects on his/her own ability to “represent” the world she’s discussing. Representation itself is thus under the microscope, in addition to the larger subject.
Example: Agee
The Performative Mode: The subject is performed by the author through style, language, editing, visuals, etc.
Example: “And I Walked“
What are the rhetorical goals of Hometown Baghdad? How does its mode help to achieve these goals?
If the goals were different (say, creating an argument for/against the war, for example), would different documentary modes be better for this goal? How so?
