React to day 1 of our documentaries module. One theme of day 1 is that while many docs strive to be factual, they their truths are shaped by those who make them. How did the class session relate to how you think of documentaries? Feel free to discuss whatever you think makes sense here...
Day 1 of this module we watched trailers and short documentaries about various topics. While documentaries are meant to be a non biased and completely factual in depth study on a certain topic, some of these documentaries seem to be dramatized and shown from a certain perspective the may cloud or hide other factors of the truth. I think that this can be problematic whether it is on purpose or not, and that everything should be shown when publishing research on a topic as to not hide the truth.
ReplyDeleteOn the first day we watched a mixture of videos and voted on whether it is a documentary or not and why. I remember the video about the bachelor how it had so much drama and spice to it. Just because it was a show following people does not make it a documentary. In the clip in the bachelor everything was just too over dramatic like it was almost fake. Which then makes you think if it has a script they somewhat need to follow.
ReplyDeleteOn the first day, we watched various amounts of shirt documentaries, and we also talked about what makes a documentary. As a class we discussed that documentaries should be nonfiction, for example, we watched The bachelor which was very hard to watch mainly because the actors were giving their all to win some sort of Grammy but as a class, we agreed it wasn't a documentary.
ReplyDeleteOn day 1, we dove into what really defines a documentary. It wasn't just a real-life portrayal, because shows like "The Bachelorette" are also real life but highly dramatized and made for entertainment while documentaries lean towards informational purposes. When I see documentaries, I don't expect to be too entertained by what's going on since that isn't the purpose of the production. Day 1 of the module really highlighted that point and showed that a lack of bias and truthful and unadulterated accounts from a real event are what gives a documentary its purpose.
ReplyDeleteOn the first day of documentaries, we watched various trailers or clips from TV shows and movies and voted on whether or not they would be considered documentaries. We came to the conclusion that although documentaries often tell a true story, they often only tell one side of a story based on the director’s intentions for their documentary. So while there may be facts in documentaries, it’s important to do your own research before believing everything that’s presented in the documentary. I had never thought about how directors influence the story told in a documentary and how that can create different “truths." I’ll definitely be a little more skeptical of the information given to me in a documentary from now on.
ReplyDeleteI found the timing impeccable considering after class last week I went to the first shoot day of a documentary for which I’m crewing and being interviewed. Knowing the behind the scenes of filmmaking and slowly now learning about documentaries, there’s a lot to unpack. I watched our first interviewee give her answers and wondered what lines of dialogue they were going to actually put in the edit and how it would interact with the other interviews we have yet to conduct (mine included). It’s really exciting but also reminds me of how easily things can be manipulated to share a message. Not that we’re doing that, of course. Just made me ponder it.
ReplyDeleteOn the first day, we watched trailers to various things and then had a discussion on why or why it wouldn’t be classified as a documentary. We also voted on which documentary we wanted to do a presentation on, and were put into groups. Personally I think documentaries are a fun watch but to take everything with a grain of salt, some documentaries are insanely dramatized and use musics full potential to evoke emotion.
ReplyDeleteDay one of the documentaries module made me realize how broad the genre can be. I had never thought to define what a documentary is, and when I tried to, I realized many things can be considered a documentary. For instance, one could argue that "The Bachelor" is a documentary because it's non-fiction and includes real life people. After class, I have a better understanding of how documentaries can be influenced by the director's own biases. Although documentaries are not fiction, they have elements that are inorganic and staged. It could become a problem if there is only one view point shown.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that you showed different videos and asked us if it was a documentary or not. I’m not that much of a big fan of documentaries, but if I find a good one, I'll definitely watch it. But I never set back and thought about what was a documentary and what wasn't. Or ever pay attention to the definition of a documentary, so that was very interesting to gain knowledge of this genre.
ReplyDeleteOn the first day of watching documentaries, I had a particular idea that documentaries had real information about an event or a person, and their purpose was to inform and educate but when watching The Bachelor in class it was considered a documentary because it was non-fiction as well as it catching attention the audience through romance aspects made me think about what other "shows" could be regarded as documentaries.
ReplyDelete- Emily.H
Looking back on our class last week, I realize that I have never really questioned a documentary before because I assume that they are factual. This opened my eyes to how biased a documentary can be because of the person creating it. It is still a research based art form but usually it leads to one side of an argument.
ReplyDeleteWe looked at various clips/trailers and determined what makes them a documentary vs not a documentary. One of the main things we said determined a documentary was the truthfulness of the piece. I wonder, though, if that is really soothing that can be relied on as documentaries don't necessarily tell the whole truth. We as consumers assume that the information being shown is correct, but without research of our own, we have no way of knowing what is true and what isn't. This becomes especially complicated as many documentaries are heavily based in interviews and retellings from those involves. This allows for human error in the retelling as well as intentionally withholding information.
ReplyDeleteDetermining what is or is not a documentary reframes the whole definition I had assumed a documentary is. A quick google search gets you "a movie or a television or radio program that provides a factual record or report." This can be obscured by biases, opinions, and human empathy. It is hard to tell a factual story based on all aspects and perspectives it can be taken from.
ReplyDeleteLast class, we discussed what makes a documentary, a documentary but we also talked about how documentaries tend to lead you to one opinion throughout the film to really make you engage in the story they're trying to tell and see everything from their perspective. With this newfound information I started questioning the documentaries we chose to watch more closely and really just everything we watch as consumers.
ReplyDeleteon day one of documentaries we talked about the difference between something being a documentary and something that is not one. i generally really enjoy documentaries then reality tv shows like the bachelor which is a clip we watched in class. although i did also learn that documenties don't tell the whole truth and can also be really short with not much detail and still be considered a documentary
ReplyDeleteThe challenge of trying to engage an audience and also tell a truthful story seems very challenging in documentaries. I think the differences of like reality tv and the documentaries we are watching for class are the message. I don't think reality tv is documentary but its interesting its kinda perceived that way sometimes. Kinda makes me think of shows like the office or parks and rec. Like reading non-fiction, some documentaries can feel boring or draining, but if it is an intriguing topic, it can be super engaging.
ReplyDeleteWe watched short documentaries and talked about what makes a documentary. The discussion we had about what is and isn't a documentary made me aware of what identifies as a documentary. And if it would fit better under another genre. For example, The Bachelorette, was seen as a documentary but in reality, no. The Bachelorette is dramatic, staged and most likely fake.
ReplyDeleteDay one of the new module, we learned what defines a documentary. We discussed that it includes interviews, real life situations, and there are still fictional parts in the film. This is because the filmmaker wants the audience to be engaged and not just watch an individual go about there day the whole time. The filmmaker gets the viewers to feel a certain emotion when they add music, change the lightning, and or the colors in the film. They pick and choose what parts of the day or story they want to include for the documentary to make it more interesting or even dramatic. Personally I used to watch a lot of docuseries when I was younger and I used to love it. I don’t watch them anymore but I still find it interesting and it does affect how I view things.
ReplyDeleteabout their* day the whole time*
DeleteI was absent on the first day of the new unit. From what I read and see for the lesson plan, we watched a series of videos and voted on their authenticity as a documentary or not. The bachelor was an example of a show that seemed to be less like a documentary due to the obvious scripted scenes in the show.
ReplyDeleteI was absent that day so I will talk about the documentary I watched and if it related to how I think of documentaries. I watched Homeroom and it did relate but not in the sense I would have thought of. I usually watch sports documentaries so I am used to commentary from a few noticeable people and then clips. Still, this doc did not really have people talking directly to the cameras. This is not a way to bash Homeroom but it is just an observation I made.
ReplyDeleteI was absent on the first day of the new unit. I did watch the samples of documentaries that were watched on the first day. I think some documentaries are based on realistic and factual experiences. Such as the camera following and interviewing Mr. Sunshine about his life prior and how it got him to where he is today and why. Versus the bachelorette which gives off reality tv shows versus documentary because some tend to be more scripted or dramatic for certain viewers. I normally watch true crime documentaries that reveal facts from all perspectives in person interviews with the killer, the victims family, detectives and then normally shows the trial or crime scene.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the clips of the documentaries, it showed me how there are different genres when it comes to documentaries. It can show how exaggerated it can be when there are multiple edits and cuts made to the scene. For example, watching the trailer for The Bachelor showed me that the editors put together the most intense scenes to catch the audiences attention and cause drama between the people in the show by having them switch scenes around and stirring up new drama. It is also very obvious that this show compared to other documentaries is scripted.
ReplyDelete- jaylyne
DeleteAfter watching the documentaries, I can see the raw footage and energy from different people that we’ve come across with. It gives a better understanding of feelings between individuals who have mastered skills and deal with certain things everyday
ReplyDeletenovia - ^
ReplyDeleteon the first day of the module, we watched various videos/docs and decided whether they were a documentary or not. most of them are true with a little fiction in some to keep the audience engaged. I used to think they had to be strictly nonfiction but I've realized that's not the case for all . But they can be created differently due to the directors bias and views and would change depending on whos in charge.
ReplyDeleteDay 1’s theme made me realize that documentaries, while documentaries try to be as factual as can be they are influenced by who make them.It changed how I think about them, as I now see documentaries not just as neutral truth-telling tools but as stories shaped by subjective decisions on what to include, emphasize, or leave out.
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