INSTRUCTIONS
Answer the below questions in full sentences. Upload a document here, written in double space.
QUESTIONS
Select What style of Documentary you will make, and which “mode” of filmmaking you will use as defined by Bill Nichols.
What will the subject of your Documentary be?
Why are you selecting this subject? And what do you want your audience to understand, know or question about this subject?
Will you have narration or no narration? Who is your ideal narrator?
Why are you choosing this style & mode to approach this subject? (See below)
Title your Documentary.
OPTIONAL: Add an image that would give a sense of your topic
(some) TYPES OF DOCUMENTARY
“Pure” Direct Cinema & Cinema Verite
Approach the subject with a camera, and make the film from what you discover. Usually none or little narration, little or no non-diagetic sound or music, synchronized sound.
Reference the Filmmaker (cinema Verite), don’t reference the filmmaker (Direct Cinema).
The Synthetic Format
A filmmaking technique that includes Direct Cinema techniques, Archival material, “talking heads” (ie. composed interviews), nondiagetic music.
The Meta-Documentary
A film that is self-reflexive, interrogating the use or challenge of the documentary form, or investigates the process of making the documentary.
Documentary using Reenactments
Such as in A Thin Blue Line, the filmmaker will restage scenes and/or use other creative image strategies to illustrate a narrative expressed by the characters
The Essay Film
A Film narrated by the filmmaker using their own voice, telling a story that they experienced first person, often from their own life.
Experimental Documentary
This form can of course take any number of approaches, however, it is connected to the larger category of experimental film. Often categorized by a nonlinear narrative, and abstract or exploratory combinations of images.
SIX MODES OF DOCUMENTARIES
As Described by Film Scholar, Bill Nichols.
1. Expository mode: emphasizes verbal commentary and an argumentative logic. This is the mode that most people associate with documentary.
2. Participatory mode: emphasizes the interaction between filmmaker and subject. Filming takes place by means of interviews or other forms of even more direct involvement from conversations to provocations.
3. Observational mode: emphasizes a direct engagement with the everyday life of subjects as observed by an unobtrusive camera.
4. Performative mode: emphasizes the subjective or expressive aspect of the filmmaker’s own involvement with a subject.
5. Reflexive mode: calls attention to the assumptions and conventions that govern documentary filmmaking.
6. Poetic mode: emphasizes visual associations, tonal or rhythmic qualities, descriptive passages and formal organization
Bill Nichols. Introduction to Documentary. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, pp 31–32.
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Synthetic Format: Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities
Subject of the Documentary
The subject of my documentary will be the impact of climate change on coastal communities around the world. I will focus on the challenges these communities face due to rising sea levels, increased coastal erosion, and extreme weather events. The documentary will highlight the experiences of individuals living in these communities and explore their efforts to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Reason for Selecting this Subject
I am selecting this subject because climate change is a pressing global issue that demands attention and action. Coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and I want to shed light on their experiences, struggles, and resilience. By documenting their stories, I aim to raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action and emphasize the need for sustainable solutions.
Audience Understanding, Knowledge, and Questions
Through this documentary, I want my audience to understand the profound consequences that climate change has on coastal communities. I want them to develop empathy for the people affected and recognize the interconnectedness between human activities and environmental degradation. I hope to provoke thought and encourage viewers to question their own individual and collective roles in addressing climate change.
Narration Approach
For this documentary, I will incorporate narration. The ideal narrator would be someone with expertise in climate science and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by coastal communities. Their authoritative voice will provide essential context, scientific information, and insights into the broader implications of climate change. Additionally, the narrator will help guide the audience through the narrative, connecting different stories and perspectives.
Choice of Style & Mode
I have chosen the synthetic format as my style of documentary filmmaking. This approach allows me to combine elements from different modes of filmmaking to provide a comprehensive and engaging portrayal of the subject matter. By incorporating direct cinema techniques, archival materials, interviews with experts and community members, and non-diagetic music, I can create a multi-dimensional narrative that captures both the personal stories and the larger socio-environmental context.
This style suits the subject as it allows me to present a balanced view by blending factual information with personal experiences. It enables me to create a visually appealing documentary that resonates emotionally with the audience while conveying the seriousness of the issue. The synthetic format offers flexibility in storytelling and allows me to explore the complexity of climate change’s impact on coastal communities effectively.
Title: Shifting Tides: The Resilience and Challenges of Coastal Communities in a Changing Climate
Optional: Add an image that would give a sense of your topic
Coastal Community
