Documentaries are generally perceived as being an accurate depiction of real life, or as being ‘truth’. However, like in film, documentaries are often still highly constructed in the way they are filmed and edited. For example, even though in the making of Grizzly Man Herzog primarily used footage shot by someone else, he still had complete control over what was and wasn’t included and therefore had control over the representation constructed.
In the reading two main types of form in documentary are covered: Categorical and Rhetorical. In Categorical form documentary filmmakers use categories to organize the films form. It will usually introduce the subject of the film and then go on to introduce various aspects of the subject. In contrast, the rhetorical form is used to present a persuasive argument in a film. The viewer is usually addressed openly (the audience is aware they are watching something constructed) and the subject is usually a matter of opinion rather than based on factual evidence. The rhetorical form is used to appeal to our emotions and to persuade the viewer into making a choice.
