There are many definitions for what Documentary is, but it is an incredibly ambiguous subject as you will discover. Documentary is NOT a GENRE. The best definition can be found in the Film Studies Dictionary
(Blandford, Keith-Grant & Hiller, 2001; 73)
Documentary is…
‘ANY film practice that has its subject persons, events or situations that exist outside the film in the real world, also referred to as NON-FICTION FILM. ‘
Examples of Factual Programming
Nature Programmes
David Attenborough
Blue Planet
Big Cat Diaries
Docu-Swaps
Wife Swap
The Apprentice
Reality TV
Big Brother
I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here
News Programmes
ITV News
Newsreels
BBC News 24
Social Issues Documentaries
Super Size Me
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fly On The Wall Documentaries
ITV’s From Hell Series
People Documentaries
Aileen
The Most Unromantic Man In The World
Celebrity, Music and Film Documentaries
Celebrity Video Diaries
Live Concerts
Breaking The Code - Da Vinci Code
Current Affairs Programmes
Tonight with Trevor McDonald
Panorama
Historical and Geographic Programmes
Usually on BBC, History or National Geographic Channels
Ethnographic - exploring a culture
War Documentaries
Information, Education and Entertainment
Factual programming can really be further divided into these three categories.
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