Citation: Nichols, Bill. “Documentary Modes of Representation” [extract: Modes & The Expository Mode] Representing Reality: Issues and Concepts in Documentary. Bloomington & Indianapolis, Indiana University Press, 1991, p.32-38.

Log entry:

Key points:

-Bill provides four terms of practices in documentary making, expository, observational, interactive and reflexive.
-The observational mode arose with the availability of the mobile equipments and unsatisfied moralizing quality of expository documentary. This style allows filmmakers to record events unnoticeably but requires limited presence at the moment
-The interactive mode arose with the same mobile equipments but this style makes it more apparent for the filmmakers as it allows them to actively participate in events.
-The reflexive mode raises the audience’s awareness of the means of representation itself
-This reading focuses on expository mode, the style shapes around the commentary which is directed towards the viewer and images serve as illustration towards the narrative.
-The editing style is evidentiary
-This mode focuses on the impression of Impartiality and true judgment.
-It revolves around providing suspense to the piece of work rather than providing solution to a problem.

What it helped me to understand about documentary:
Old forms of style don’t go, they can be combined and altered to represent the work.

Comments:
This style of documentary persuades just one side of the story and thus the essence of truth lacks in the narrative unless the cinematography and editing is convincing enough.