What is a documentary?
A documentary is an audiovisual work, whether cinematic or television, in which different topics and real events are presented for educational and pedagogical purposes.
The development of a documentary does not only involve learning, the work can be more aesthetic and aim to make more of an impact through film techniques.
Types of documentary
In terms of the classification of documentaries, there are two aspects to highlight; documentaries according to their form and documentaries according to their theme.
Types of documentary according to their form
The “form” is how the story is told, that is, how the documentary is made in terms of audiovisual techniques and screenplay.
News documentary types
This type of documentary aims to narrate the facts of something specific in “real-time”. This kind of audiovisual production has the problem, for the documentary maker, of the emergence of new events or news that make it necessary to modify both the script and the production of the documentary.
Historical documentary types
These are the ones in which a visit to the past is made from the present. The documentarian will rely on archive images, testimonies, and interviews for their narration.
If you are interested in historical documentaries, we recommend you read this article in which they recommend some documentaries of this type!
Testimonial documentary types
A testimonial documentary is a type of documentary film that presents interviews with real people who have firsthand experience with the subject of the film.
These films often focus on stories of survival or redemption, and they usually aim to raise awareness about important social issues. Although testimonial documentaries can be powerful tools for change, they also have the potential to be manipulative or exploitative.
Therefore, it is important for viewers to approach these films with a critical eye. However, when done well, testimonial documentaries can be moving and enlightening experiences that promote empathy and understanding.
Biographical documentary types
A biographical documentary is a type of documentary film that tells the story of a person’s life.
Unlike a traditional documentary, which may focus on a specific event or topic, a biographical documentary tells the story of an individual person, tracing their life from birth to death. The film may include interviews with relatives and friends, as well as archive footage and photographs.
While biographical documentaries often refer to famous people, they can also refer to ordinary people whose stories deserve to be told. Whatever the subject, a biographical documentary is an intimate and personal look at someone’s life.
We recommend this article about the best biographical documentaries in history.
Docudrama
A docudrama is a movie or television program that presents objective information about a real person, event, or topic.
Unlike documentaries, which aim to be an objective portrait of events, docudramas often use recreations and dramatized scenes to tell their story. Although this can make the program more entertaining, it can also lead to accusations of bias and misinformation.
Nevertheless, docudramas remain popular among audiences, who are often drawn to the personal stories that form the core of these productions.
Photo documentary
An audiovisual work composed mainly of static photographs. They can be either a compilation of photographs over the years or the production of explicit studio photographs for the work.
Types of documentary according to their theme
Documentaries can be classified by the theme that the work deals with, below we explain the different types of documentaries according to their themes:
Documentaries of this type implicitly contain a critique of current society. They expose social issues such as migrations, inequalities by race, sex, condition, or thought, etc.
Types of political axis documentary
This type of theme usually goes hand in hand with the previous one, as it is rare to make a documentary of a political nature without generating social critique or analysis. They are two points that are interconnected, so documentaries of this type will always maintain a certain aura of social critique.
Types of scientific axis documentary
In this type of documentary, the emphasis is on scientific and technological dissemination, that is, they are educational documentaries intended to bring science and advances closer to the viewer.
Ethnobiographical axis documentary types
Lastly, this theme also refers to the method of making such documentaries. These works tell the stories or lives of certain people, but in the same place where the stories to be told grew or developed.
Characteristics of a documentary
Documentaries are an informative audiovisual expression, in principle, that aim to share information through a cinematic realization.
There are certain characteristics that determine the nomenclature of a documentary such as:
Informative nature
The main feature of documentaries is the information they contain and their intention to share it. Not all documentaries aim for perfect communication of the information, but they must contain it.
Persuasive nature
The final intention of a documentary that aims to share information, in essence, is to persuade the viewer and create in them the ideas and concepts that the documentary seeks to convey. Thus generating opinion and critique in the viewer regarding the topic to be addressed in the work.
Narrator
Another typical characteristic of a documentary is the appearance of a narrator or voice-over, who will guide us through the documentary and its evolution.
Interviews and testimonies
One of the most typical and used tools in documentary cinema are interviews and testimonies. These tools serve to provide validity to the information being presented, in addition to being a more entertaining form of expression.
Demonstrable data
Not all works of this type contain demonstrable and verified data, but it is one of the key points for the documentary to have veracity.
Conclusion
Documentaries are audiovisual works, whether cinematic or not, with informative and persuasive character.
There are different types of documentary, themes, and forms of expression when making one, but the basic characteristics are shared by all works of this nature.
If you want to learn more about documentaries, how to make them and documentary research, do not hesitate to continue exploring our blog.
