LW214 History and Issues of Documentary Films 3CR

Documentary, as defined by John Grierson, is the creative treatment of actuality. Grierson coined the term in his review of Robert Flahertys Moana (1926). Contemporary culture expands on classical rhetorical and observational forms to include docusoaps, agitprop, advocacy, animation, sensory ethnography, mockumentary, first-person, and more. In this course we will explore the origins of documentary, discuss the central issues of the field, examine historical and contemporary trends, and identify the aesthetic strategies and techniques used by documentary makers along with their rhetorical effects.

Prerequisites: LW200

Lecture

Undergraduate Elective
Spring