How Documentaries Work To Position You
Through the use of a range of techniques the information of a documentary can be arranged to support one side of an argument. These techniques complement the information being presented and with effective use will be able to create convincing representations. Through the use of the techniques, especially the representations created, a director s able to position their audience to see an issue how he would like them to.
A technique used by most documentaries to create effective representations is the use of selective and editing, most often in regard to interviews and speeches. This technique is so effective because peoples own words are often turned against the cause they are standing for. A technique often used in tandem with the editing to extenuate the effect is the use of B-roll footage. Used together these two techniques can create powerful representations. In Who Killed the Electric Car? these methods are used to show the audience that General Motors was one of the 'murders' of the electric car. This is evident during an interview with a GM spokesperson when footage is shown of the cars being disposed in direct contrast to how he is saying they would be. Excellent examples of B-roll footage are seen in Supersize Me. Whenever the subject of overweight and obese people are mentioned, and often straight after an aspect of McDonalds has been discussed, footage of morbidly obese people are shown. The footages effect is amplified because of its extremely confronting nature. By doing this Spurlock is positioning people to associate the cause of obesity to McDonalds. While these techniques are extremely effective, they can easily be used to construe false representations. This means that the directors personal agenda needs to be taken into account before representations are readily accepted.
Music is a tool that is effectively used to support arguments and deliver messages in documentaries. The music often reflects and even creates the...
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