There is a tendency to expect a structural similarity and a “clear evolutive relation” when tying linear and interactive documentaries. However, new media artist Mitchell Whitelaw states that interactive documentaries shouldn’t be seen this way, and that instead, it should be seen as documentaries that “need not replay the conventions of traditional, linear documentary storytelling” for it “offers its own ways of playing with reality” (Whitelaw, 2002, p.8).
References:
Whitelaw, Mitchell 2002, ‘Playing Games with Reality’, Only Fish shall Visit and Interactive Documentary, Catalogue Essay for Halfeti: Only Fish Shall Visit, by Brogan Bunt. Exhibited at Artspace, Sydney, September 19-October 12.
http://www.interactivedocumentary.net/wp-content/2009/07/sg_panel-yr3_2009_ch1.pdf