An Investigation into the Portrayal or Truth Within the...

As documentary by its very nature introduces itself as factual, concerns exist as to where the boundary between the truth of subject and the fiction produced by its creator emerges. As anything that has been edited has by definition removed certain aspects and enhanced others, there must be at best an innocent naturally occurring bias formed from individual perception, and at worst purposefully manipulated misinformation. Through researching various sources, I intend to discover the difference (if any) between these two methods making factually based programmes, to determine any variables that lie in the ‘grey area’ between the two extremes, and to ascertain the diverse forms of conduct in which truth (and in turn documentary) can be†¦show more content†¦In Manchester they found local poet D.G Bridson, who went on to produce the first Radio Documentary programs; Steel, Cotton, Wool and Coal, the first of which was met with a less than enthusiastic public respons e (â€Å"Sheffield Laughed when [the] BBC went poetic over steel† The Daily Independent). Through reading the first 5 chapters of this book, it is interesting to observe the evolution of the documentary format and its early criticisms, but what is more interesting to behold is the journalistic response to these criticisms, the mechanisms that were put in place to overcome them that still stand today. Davies, N. 2008. Flat Earth News. London: Random House Publishing Flat Earth News raises an interesting counterpoint to our perception of what the documentary genre truly is. The book, whilst focusing mainly on newspapers and journals, systematically breaks down the journalistic process to discover its roots, and perhaps quite alarmingly, its lack of. What have often been described as trusted establishments, dating back countless generations or even centuries are exposed as mass instruments of control. The book could be described as an investigation, as journalist Nick Davies interviews various other journalists and documentarians, asking them hard hitting questions about their craft and its downfalls, in an effort to uncover what he describes as a ‘grizzly truth’. This book provides balance in my research, pointing out clearly thatShow MoreRelatedEveryday Experience, Suggests Edgerton, Like Documentary,1340 Words   |  6 PagesEveryday experience, suggests Edgerton, like documentary, arises from the interplay of two realms; one hidd en and one perceived. This duality, encompassing both the darkroom of the film developer and dark theater where the film is screened, pertains not only to documentary but to life as we live it. Masked by our â€Å"inherent inability to see,† and curled inside timescales we cannot untangle, a bizarre world plays out, contained by, yet isolated from that which we live in (Edgerton. 1970 1-2). NeverthelessRead MoreEssay about Jurors and Prosecution: Forensics in Pop Culture1264 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction. With producing reality shows comes producing inaccuracies in portrayals in order to reach as many viewers and gain as high ratings as possible. 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