Different Types of Documentaries

Poetic Documentaries

Poetic documentaries focus on images and experiences that offer new perspectives on the way that we view the world and life around us. They often have a loose narrative and would be considered by some as abstract, experimental and unconventional. The main aim of a poetic documentary is to create a feeling as oppose to a truth, which is the case with other types of documentaries.

An example of a poetic documentary would be 'Rain' or 'Regen' in its native language of Dutch. This poetic documentary presents us with the "city symphony" and takes a view from afar at the city and the socioeconomic conditions of the time. Modernism is present in this documentary, which some could argue stimulated the progress in the development of other styles of documentary such as German Expressionism, Dada, Avant-Garde Documentaries and would later have an influence over Neue Sachlichkeit.

Expository Documentaries

Expository documentaries feature commentary which runs over pictures and videos, to tell a very specific story. Expository documentaries will often attempt to push an attitude or viewpoint and one could even argue that they attempt to get you on "their side". These documentaries propose a point of view. Some would describe the commentary in an expository documentary as omniscient, hence the title in media known as "the voice of god"

Bowling for Columbine is a very well-known documentary and one that touches on the horrific events of the Columbine High School Massacre of 1999, as well as the broader topic of gun violence. Written and presented by Michael Moore, Bowling for Columbine is a documentary which not only recalls the events of the Columbine school shooting, but also highlights the issue of gun violence and how accessible that guns are in the USA, more so than most countries in the world and perhaps definitely the most pronounced country regarding gun violence in the western world.

Observational Documentaries

Observational documentaries aim to capture real-life situations without interfering with them. Observational documentaries have a "fly-on-the-wall" style of filming, which involves the cameras being around the point of interest.

Children Underground is an observational documentary which focuses on the lives of 5 impoverished children who are living in Bucharest, Romania, not too long after the collapse of communism and the damaging situations it left a lot of Eastern Europe in. it highlights an issue that is still present in Romania today, with many living underground in Bucharest and almost certainly other parts of the country, but generally highlights the broad issue of homelessness and vulnerable children having no home and no real chance at life. It is very sad yet a powerful observation on the critical situations in some parts of the world, even though homelessness is of course a global issue.

Participatory Documentaries

Participatory documentaries involve the creators of the documentary, or communities surrounding the production in the film-making process. A good example of participatory documentaries would be the ones which include Louis Theroux, an individual who is famous for participating in the documentaries that he presents.

Roger & Me is a participatory documentary which was wrote, directed, produced and stars Michael Moore as he explores the impacts of GM (General Motor's) actions, laying off thousands of workers in Moore's hometown of Flint, Michigan. Michigan engages with the people of Flint in this documentary, such as people who have worked and been laid off by GM and his own family who worked for the very same company.

Reflexive Documentaries

Reflexive documentaries are similar to participatory documentaries in that they include the film-maker. Reflexive documentaries make no effort to explore an outside subject, which sets them apart from participatory documentaries. Reflexive documentaries will make an inward look at the self, specifically and most-likely the film-maker.

Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends is a reflexive documentary series, but could also be considered participatory to an extent. In it, we see Louis Theroux visit people and communities all over the world and indulge in their cultures and beliefs, learning more about the more extreme individuals as well as their values among us. He also involves himself in this, giving polarity to the subjects discusses in the documentaries and offering a Down-To-Earth on things that from the outside looking in, a lot of people would consider unusual or extreme to say the least.

Performative Documentaries

Performative documentaries are considered an experimental combination of documentary styles, which highlight subject experience and share an emotional response with the world. They tend to juxtapose personal accounts with large political and/or historical issues.

Fahrenheit 9/11 is a performative documentary by Michael Moore, which combines factual analysis with powerful emotion which is in essence, the skeletal structure of most performative documentaries, sharing emotional reactions to large issues, particularly in the world of politics. Outrage and horror are what is portrayed by Michael Moore, as he looks at the U.S.A and their role in the Iraq war, looking at how the war unfolded, and the U.S.A's response to it.