Documentaries aim to present reality, yet they are inevitably shaped by the artifice of the filmmaker's creative choices. This course will explore this central paradox of documentary, investigating how filmmakers have evolved production methods to address the tension between reality and its representation. Through examining subgenres like diary films, city symphonies, essay films, animated documentaries, and mockumentaries, we will gain a broad understanding of experimental documentary practices and the perspectives they afford. This course will encourage you to critically analyze how we collaborate with cinema to create and understand meaning.
Note: While not principally a production course, students may have several opportunities to produce short, creative works as part of the course.