Introduction to Documentary Theory

3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021058ANR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

Linguistics and Literary Studies

Educational team

Matthias De Groof (course titular)
Jelle Mast

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture

Course Content

This course offers an introduction to documentary theory, focusing on the complexities of representation and form in the documentary genre, with particular focus on documentary film and television. Documentary, and by extension non-fiction, is premised on, and derives its social status and appeal from, its distinctive claim to the real, or so-called 'assertive stance' towards the state of affairs it portrays. A fundamental tension emerges, however, between this 'truth claim', and the several different forms it takes, on the one hand, and elements of form, expressiveness, rhetoric and representation, on the other. Documentary has been characterized, therefore, by a rich, yet, contested history of what founding father John Grierson has coined 'the creative treatment of actuality'.

In this course, we look into the different forms and practices, controversies and debates, that have ensued from the fundamental tension outlined above. In doing so, we will interrogate notions of 'non-fiction' and 'documentary', and discuss different perspectives and approaches. We will focus primarily on components of documentary (or non-fiction) discourse, rhetoric and representation ( e.g. structure, style and technique), and their implications for portraying the socio-historical world. This also includes ethical discussions and dilemmas emerging from documentary practice. In the second part of the course, we shift perspective to hybrid forms which stretch the boundaries of documentary's claim to the real, or its codes and conventions. Notable examples of such cross-fertilizations include the docudrama(e.g. historical and 'conditional tense'), the mockumentary or fake documentary (e.g. parody, satire, critique), and the animated documentary.

Theorizations and empirical research from the domain of documentary studies will be integrated with insights from documentary authors, filmmakers and program-makers, and illustrated with examples from the documentary canon (e.g. Grierson, Vertov, Pennebaker, Wiseman, Morris, Moore, Theroux). As part of the course, students also need to apply these insights in a case study of a current example of a documentary film, television program, or web documentary.

Additional info

Course material (slides and list of compulsory reading) will be made available on the digitial platform Canvas. Tutoring upon request, after making an appointment.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

- Students know the main approaches and theories and are familiar with (international) developments in the domain of documentary studies

- Students have the knowledge to assess documentary forms and practices from an academic perspective, both in terms of aesthetics and ethics

- Students are able to adopt and articulate a critical position towards documentary rhetoric and representation, as well as the societal role(s) of documentary forms and practices

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 70% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 30% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oral exam with a relative weight of 70 which comprises 70% of the final mark.

Note: Oral exam

Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Individual paper with a relative weight of 30 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Note: Individual paper

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral exam with open questions, determines 70% of final mark.

Individual paper, determines 30% of final mark.

Examination for all course components is required in order to pass. In the second examination period, resit is only required for those components for which the student did not pass in the first period. If a student wishes to retake examination for a course component for which a pass grade was obtained, s/he must contact the lecturer by email at the latest before the start of the second term/the next academic year.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context