Sub Genres

There are five sub-genres for a documentary.


The expository mode is characterised by the 'Voice of God' narration directly addressing the viewer. There is a direct relationship between images and the voice-over and interviews are used to only support the film's argument. it has a conventional narrative structure and the narrator tends to appear as a character in the documentary. Typical documentaries that follow this sub-genre tend to be nature documentaries.


The observational mode is characterised by a non-interventionist or fly-on-the-wall style of presentation, unobtrusive camera work, appearing to offer a 'window on the world'. They tend to be relatively long takes connoting that nothing has been 'cut out' and zoom lenses and hand-held cameras follow the action. They are edited in a way to give the impression of 'lived' or 'real' time and there is speech which is overheard and not directed to camera or audience. There is synchronous sound and only diegetic music is used because it originates in the documentary's world. Big Brother and I'm A Celebrity tend to follow this documentary sub-genre.


The interactive mode is characterised by the acknowledged presence of the camera and crew. The film-maker also speaks directly to their subjects and an emphasis is used on monologues and dialogues. There is a representation of multiple viewpoints, contributing different information and editing which maintains logical continuity. In this sub-genre there is no definitive argument which leaves the audience to decide and develop their own opinion. Typical documentaries that follow this sub-genre are ones such as Embarrassing Bodies.


The reflexive mode is characterised by acknowledgement of the medium to problematise it and discussion of the problems of making the documentary. They also make it explicit about the process of representation and make it explicit on institutional issues (such as who is funding it)


The performative mode is where the maker 'stars' in his/her own film, is also self-reflexive, such as Kurt & Courtney (1998)


After getting more into my documentary, I have decided that it will be a bit of an 'expository' and a bit of 'reflexive' documentary. This is because there is a voice of God narrating the documentary, but I'm not necessarily being part of the documentary or arguing as such.