Documentary Film, History, Theory, and Practice: Working with the real

Aim

Intended learning outcomes

• After completion of the course the student shall be able to demonstrate knowledge about documentary cinema and its societal contexts, from a historical developmental view through to recent film examples, with a focus on the artistic production.

• use of typologies of documentary modes of representation as laid out in film theory, and apply the knowledge to films seen and to films made.

• use methods developed within cultural research to describe and interpret cultural conventions for documentary narration.

• compare and judge research-based and practice-based methods for documenting and structuring content.

• apply ethical considerations in documentary productions.

• evaluate relevant source critical considerations for documentary productions.

• display ability to search, assemble, evaluate and review information for a set problem.

• make use of digital technologies for production of linear as well as non-linear narration within the field of film documentary.

• demonstrate and apply professional knowledge of the digital production work-flow used in documentary film making, recording, narrating, editing and dissemination.

• judge and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a production’s process.

Content

The aim of the course is to combine the development of a documentary film project with a research-based knowledge of conventions and styles of documentary films. The course content is generated through an interplay throughout the course between theoretically substantiated production work and the study of productions based on cultural, social and media theoretical aspects. The course is organized around a project that involves fact based content and IT-based technologies for audio, video and space.