Documentaries have evolved so much since these times, and now include many different genres and key ideas. Documentaries can be used to showcase a lifestyle, educate people, discuss ideas, and so much more. There are many techniques and contemporary practices that all documentaries showcase, as well as different styles of documentary that differ between documentaries, depending on the purpose of the documentary and whatever the documentary is showcasing, combined with the ideals of the documentary maker.
-Expository mode. They follow scripts closely. The main aim of these documentaries is to educate and explain phenomena’s such as events, issues and settings we know nothing about. Expository mode documentaries typically include a ‘voice of god’ narration.
-Observational mode. This form is also referred to as cinema verite, direct cinema or fly-on-the-wall documentary. Observational documentaries aim to present cinematic realism. A small group of 2 to 3 people could record an observational documentary, where the aim is to be as non-intrusive as possible.
-Participatory mode. The encounter between filmmaker and subject is recorded and the filmmaker actively engages with the situation they are documenting. This mode focuses on immediacy, whilst also presenting the filmmaker’s point of view, to either bring a message across or to argue against points.
-Reflective mode. Promote truth and calls the viewers attention to the filmmaking process. The filmmakers make sure that the audience knows that this is a documentary.
-Poetic mode. The main aim is to create an impression or a mood, rather than argue or prove a point. These documentaries are very visual based, and often use music and b-roll for the majority of the content.
-Performative mode. This mode is the polar opposite to the observational mode. The aim of per formative mode is to emphasize the filmmakers own involvement with the subject.
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