Module Identifier TF20410  
Module Title DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS  
Academic Year 2000/2001  
Co-ordinator Mr James Medhurst  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Mikal Koven, J Jones  
Pre-Requisite TF10210 , TF10410  
Course delivery Lecture   20 Hours LECTURES PLUS PRE- VIEWINGS  
Assessment Exam   2 Hours   60%  
  Essay   ESSAY (2500)   40%  

Aims
The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the nature of documentary reality (modes of production and reception) focussing on the genre from the 1960's on. From Watson?s The Family to Bazalgette's Big Brother, this course will attempt to unravel the complex, implicit contract between the viewer and programme maker. Students will be able to trace the development of the factual broadcast genre from the introduction of portable, lightweight recording equipment in the 1960's through to present day interactive web-based output. They will be encouraged to consider how the nature of mediated documentary reality is changing to keep up with the forces of technology, competition and cultural preferences.

Learning Outcomes:

Typically, on completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Deconstruct the visual text distinguishing the discreet production elements characteristic of each documentary.
- Question the concept of objectivity in documentary-making
- Understand mediation in its various forms (e.g. an ability to distinguish different modes of authorship within the genre)
- Analyse the spectrum of 'indexical truthfulness' as defined by the relationship between the production and its audience.
- Demonstrate how modern audiences relate differently to factual texts making reference to the new politics of reception.
- Appreciate how technology drives content and vice versa (from the first mag track to the current use of web-cam and the creation of e-docs)

Content:

10 x 90 minute lectures studying in particular The Family, Sylvania Waters, The Leader, His Driver And The Driver's Wife, Roger and Me, Video Diaries, The Connection, Rogue Males, Nice Girls, Michael Collins, Hillsborough, Paddington Green, Ibiza Uncovered, Brass Eye, Castaway, Big Brother

Reading Lists
Books
** Essential Reading
Brian Winston. Lies, Damn Lies and Documentaries, 2000.
Brian Winston. Claiming The Real.
Jon Dovey. Freakshow, First Person Media and Factual Television, 2000.
David Giles. Illusions of Immortality, 2000.
John Corner. The Art of Record, 1996.
Stella Buzzi. The New Documentary, 2000.
Richard Kilborn and John Izod. An Introduction To Television Documentary, 1997.
Derek Paget. No Other Way To Tell It, 1997.
Derek Paget. Playing For Real, 2001.

Web Page/Sites
http://www.aber.ac.uk/modules/documents/tf20410_1.pdf
PRONAY: John Grierson and the Documentary.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/modules/documents/tf20410_3.pdf
http://www.aber.ac.uk/modules/documents/tf20410_4.pdf
http://www.aber.ac.uk/modules/documents/tf20410_5.pdf