FAV172 Methods of Documentary Film

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr., BcA. Andrea Slováková (lecturer), prof. PhDr. Jiří Voráč, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Voráč, Ph.D.
Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: prof. PhDr. Jiří Voráč, Ph.D.
Timetable
each odd Thursday 14:10–17:25 C34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/100, only registered: 0/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Interactive lectures with guests will introduce various methods of contemporary documentary filmmaking.
Bill Nichols' lucid taxonomy of documentary films as published in “Introduction to Documentary” reflects various stylistic means, involvement of the author, relationships towards the depicted characters… And each possibility opens different not only aesthetical but also ethical questions.
Another way how to subdivide documentaries may be a genre diversification (ethnographic film, historical film, essays, film – diary) or diversification based on methods (found footage, time-lapse, committed films).
During the lectures we shall see into various documentaries as far as their methods or genres are concerned by „a reverse look“ at those films – by thoroughly analyzing their topic base, screenplay writing, filming procedure, interaction with characters, selection of stylistic means… A detailed interview with the authors of the respective films will also open up further questions regarding ethics or stylistic possibilities of documentary filmmaking. The introduction will contextualize the selected genres and methods within the realm of world as well as Czech cinema.
Aim: The student should gain basic knowledge and understanding of various methods of contemporary documentary filmmaking.
Syllabus
  • Each lecture will be divided into three parts: introduction of the method, film screening (or screening of long samples) and a moderated debate with the author.
  • 1. film essay, found footage
  • 2. time-lapse film
  • 3. edited documentary
  • 4. ethnographic film and visual anthropology
  • 5. situated documentary
  • 6. committed film
Literature
    required literature
  • Nichols, Bill: Úvod do dokumentárního filmu. Praha: AMU - Jihlava: JSAF, 2010.
  • GAUTHIER, Guy. Dokumentární film, jiná kinematografie. Translated by Ladislav Šerý. 1. vyd. V Praze: Akademie múzických umění, 2004, 507 s. ISBN 8073310236. info
  • DO. Sborníky textů o dokumentu. Jihlava: JSAF, 2003–dosud.
    recommended literature
  • GAUDREAULT, A., MARION, Ph.: Boh je autor dokumentárnych filmov... Kino Ikon, 6, č. 2 (2002), s. 95-106
  • WEES, William: Doména montáže: kompilácia, koláž, prispôsobenie. Kino Ikon, 9, č. 1 (2005), s. 159-170.
  • LEACOCK, Richard: Obrana flahertyovských tradícií. Kino Ikon, 5, č. 1 (2001), s. 136-143.
  • PALOTAI, János: „Archeologie“ soukromého Maďarska. Rozhovor s Péterem Forgácsem. Iluminace, 16, č. 3 (2004), s. 177-198.
  • SCHNEIDEROVÁ, Alexandra: Performance v rodinném filmu. Iluminace, 16, č. 3 (2004), s. 69-84.
  • GAINES, Jane M.: Documentary Radicality. Canadian Journal of Film Studies, 16, č. 1 (jaro 2007), s. 5-24.
  • PLANTINGA, Carl R. Rhetoric and representation in nonfiction film. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997, x, 255. ISBN 0521573262. info
  • Theorizing documentary. Edited by Michael Renov. New York: Routledge, 1993, ix, 261. ISBN 0415903823. info
  • NICHOLS, Bill. Representing reality :issues and concepts in documentary. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1991, xx, 313 s. ISBN 0-253-20681-2. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, screenings, discussion.
Assessment methods
Colloquium consists of two parts: written analysis and oral exam.
1. Written part (to andrea@dokument-festival.cz):
a) an essay on a selected film (four pages),
b) an original definition of "documentary film" (two pages),
c) an essay on one of the presented methods (trhee pages). 2. Oral part: discussion over submitted texts.
Dates to be specified.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
General note: Termíny blokové výuky: 17.3., 31.3., 14.4., 28.4., 12.5. a 19.5. vždy čtvrtek 14:10-17:25.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2014, Spring 2017.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2011, recent)
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