The vast majority of documentaries are structured in the form of a narrative.  Narrative is generally quite easy to follow and is what most of us have been raised reading or watching e.g. Disney fairytales.  Although, there are other types of documentary structures we can utilise including: non-narrative.

Within this non-narrative structure, we have multiple forms which can be used to tell the story you wish to convey.  The reading looks in depth at: categorical form, rhetorical form, abstract form and associational form.

The author begins with categorical form.  This form looks at the ‘categories’ or social grouping which “organise their knowledge of the world”.  The reading looks at how in everyday life, these categories are not as strict as the film world presents.  We don’t look at animals and group them into their species.  We will rather look at the animals and possibly group them based on: domestic or wild.  The categorical film form will often begin with identifying the topic of the film.  Throughout the film, patterns will develop which will allow the audience to follow the story.  This form is relatively simple and relies on repetition.  The movement of the film in turn stays quite straightforward, thus there is the risk that the audience may become bored.

Next, the reading looks at rhetorical form.  This form of documentary is designed to persuade the audience to form opinions based on the documentary’s topic.  The audience is manipulated by the film maker to see the subject through their lens and form these opinions.  “This type of film goes beyond the categorical type in that it tries to make one explicit argument.”  This style of media is not strictly related to film… we encounter it everyday– in arguments, in speeches, in television, reporting and more.  Commercials are a particular example of rhetorical form in which they often pursue a fairly aggressive persuasion.  If persuading our minds and our brains is unsuccessful in this form, the last resort is often playing with our emotions.

Abstract form is commonly used in experimental films.  This form relies on the unusual aspects of colour, shape, size, shadow and image movement.  Abstract films use “theme and variation” to highlight change and differences in different sections of the film.  This will allow the audience to see the progression of the film.  These films are often quite confronting and can be difficult for the audience to follow.  Many attract films also incorporate aspects of ‘associational form’, particularly in transitioning.

Associational form is a final medium of documentary.  This form makes use of a range of images or ideas which may have little “logical connection,” and then juxtaposes them.  This juxtaposition encourages the audience to find a connection between these images.

Extract on ‘Non-Narrative Documentary’ film in D. Bordwell and K.Thompson, 2006,  Film Art: An Introduction, pp. 342-370.