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The Codes & Conventions of A Documentary

This document discusses the codes and conventions commonly used in documentaries. It provides examples of codes such as interviews, voiceovers, reenactments, location filming, and music. Conventions listed include credits/titles, archival footage, handheld camera work, opposing viewpoints, and vox pops (voice of the people interviews). Examples are given of how these codes and conventions were used in specific documentaries about autism and LGBTQ+ rights to engage audiences and convey factual information and real-life experiences in an unbiased manner.

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A2 Media Column D
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17 views

The Codes & Conventions of A Documentary

This document discusses the codes and conventions commonly used in documentaries. It provides examples of codes such as interviews, voiceovers, reenactments, location filming, and music. Conventions listed include credits/titles, archival footage, handheld camera work, opposing viewpoints, and vox pops (voice of the people interviews). Examples are given of how these codes and conventions were used in specific documentaries about autism and LGBTQ+ rights to engage audiences and convey factual information and real-life experiences in an unbiased manner.

Uploaded by

A2 Media Column D
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The codes &

conventions of a
documentary
CODES AND CONVENTIONS
RELATE TO ASPECTS TYPICALLY
WHAT ARE PRESENTED IN (THIS CASE)
DOCUMENTARIES. THEY
CODES AND ESTABLISH THE TYPE AND MOOD
OF THE PRODUCTION. AN
CONVENTIONS AUDIENCE CAN UNDERSTAND
WHAT THEY ARE WATCHING
THROUGH THE USE OF CODES
AND CONVENTIONS
EXAMPLES
OF DOCUMENTARIES
REAL LIFE VOICE OVER FROM PRESENTER
INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS WHICH IS USUALLY
ACCOUNTS OR OCCASIONALLY THE
FILMED WITH A STILL CAMERA
INTERVIEWE
MISE EN SCENE TO
RECONSTRUCTIONS TO
ESTABLISH LOCATION
CEMENT KNOWLEDGE
AND CLOTHING
AND UNDERSTANDING
CODES AND
CONVENTIONS OPPOSING OPINIONS
MEDIATION TO
ENCODE A
MESSAGE

MUSIC FOR BACKGROUD


ADDITONS
HAND HELD CAMERA
VOX POPS FOR REAL LIFE EVENTS
VOICE OF THE CREDITS AND TITLES
POPULATION
BACKGROUND FOOTAGE
ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE
ACTUAL FOOTAGE
EXAMPLES OF CODES AND
CONVENTIONS

Credits
Vox pop
Archival footage

Hand held camera

Expert face shot


Opposing opinions
EXAMPLES IN DOCUMENTARIES

OUR WORLD;
QUEER BRITAIN;
This particular documentary focuses on the lives of
people living with autism and will potentially rely on This recent and immensely popular documentary
the use of ECT to better their quality of life. It highlights the lives of many LGBTQ+ individuals who
contains codes and conventions such as; music, endure prejudice and homophobia from their own
voiceover, footage, location, real life accounts, community and heterosexuals. It contains codes
interviews, opposing opinions, tiles, credits, static and conventions such as; statistics, real opinions,
camera, hand held camera, facts and statistics. montage footing, real life accounts, hand held and
These elements combine to make a successful and static camera, music, professional opinions.
stereotypical presentation of documentaries.

The voiceover combined with archival and actual


The real opinions combined with real life accounts
footage added to the additional information that
cements into the Audiences minds, how harshly
audiences received whilst watching the
they have been treated by society physically and
production. It greatened their experience and
emotions as a result of their sexuality. The hand held
visualisation of the problems that people with
camera gives the documentary a relaxed feeling.
autism have on a daily basis. Real footage allowed
The professional opinions give the audience factual
audiences to view unfamiliar and unpopular
and documented advice which reinforces how
medical procedures denoted as cruel and
separated the LGBTQ+ community is from what is
inhumane. Combining these codes and
seen as the traditional norms of society which is
conventions, resulted in the documentary being
being heterosexual.
informative and unbiased as multiple opinions are
shared which sometimes contrast with each other.
CONCLUSION

Archival footage is sometimes useful however not necessary. It makes the directors
appear passionate and knowledgeable about their chosen topic however, in some
contexts it isn't useful to add lots of archival footage. Actual footage and background
footage on the other hand to me looks professional and these types of features are
prominent on most and if not all documentaries I have watched. Vox pops
allow different points of views and depending on the documentary my group and I
make, Vox pops will be extremely useful. In terms of music, this is entertaining and sets the
mood for the rest of the documentary. Music therefore, will more than likely to be used
throughout my works documentary to keep the pace and mood.

Expert opinions are vital in my opinion to the success of a documentary. They give
different, if not the same opinions and add to the meaning of the topic. They give a
factual and educated opinion to the audience and the spectator gets to
understand professional views. Real life accounts are also vital information and
admissions to the documentary. The audience gets to see visually somebody affected or
participating in the particular topic and raise awareness surrounding this.

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