Documentary Film and Television

Module code: HA2334 (double module)

This module serves as an introduction to documentary practice in film and television. We will look at examples of documentary from different national cinemas – such as Britain, Germany, the United States, Russia and Argentina – and across a range of historical period from the 1930s to the present. The module will consider:

• The different historical and ideological contexts of documentary production
• The social and political purpose of documentary
• The formal and aesthetic conventions of different modes of documentary practice
• The development of theories of documentary from John Grierson to the present
• The critical and popular reception of particular film and television documentaries

This is a double weighted module. Extended seminars, and an additional assignment will allow you to study the material covered in HA2434 in greater depth.