What did Grierson mean by his definition of documentary?

What did Grierson mean by his definition of documentary?

the creative treatment of actuality
Grierson defined documentary as ‘the creative treatment of actuality’. An examination of the rela- tionship between art, creativity and documentary production and consumption will rationalize and reconceptualize creativity for documentary practice.

What is a documentary critique?

THE STRUCTURE OF A DOCUMENTARY CRITIQUE Supply a brief summary or overview of the documentary’s hypotheses and contents. Assess the nature and the quality of the evidence presented. Comment on the documentary’s presentation: organization, narrative style, and evidence.

What is John Grierson known for?

John Grierson CBE (26 April 1898 – 19 February 1972) was a pioneering Scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of British and Canadian documentary film. In 1926, Grierson coined the term “documentary” in a review of Robert Flaherty’s Moana.

What term did John Grierson coin?

2O—John Grierson, who, coined the word “documentary” to apply to movies of the type and influenced the development of films as a medium of public service, died . yesterday in Bath. He was 73 years Old.

What does the name Grierson mean?

The ancestors of the Grierson family lived among the Strathclyde people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. Their name is derived from Grier, a pet form of the given name Gregory, which means watchful.

What is the purpose of a documentary?

Documentaries deal exclusively with facts and real-life events. The main purpose of a documentary is to inform and educate. Despite their differences, both feature films and documentaries use cinematography and follow a script.

How do you critique a documentary?

1. Step 1 Give details of the documentary.
2. Step 2 Explain the purpose of the documentary.
3. Step 3 State your prior knowledge of the subject.
4. Step 4 Summarise the documentary.
5. Step 5 Talk about the sound effects, camera work, interviews and special effects.
6. Step 6 Give personal comments and recommendation.

Who termed the documentary?

Pioneering Scottish filmmaker John Grierson (1898-1972) is often considered the father of documentary film and credited with coining the very term “documentary” in his review of Robert Flaherty’s film Moana in the February 8, 1926, issue of the New York Sun.

How do you pronounce Grierson?

Break ‘grierson’ down into sounds: [GREER] + [SUHN] – say it out loud and exaggerate the sounds until you can consistently produce them. Record yourself saying ‘grierson’ in full sentences, then watch yourself and listen.

Where does the name Grierson originate?

Grierson is a surname of Scottish origin. The name is possibly a patronymic form of the personal name Grier or Grere, which may have reflected the Scots pronunciation of Gregor.

How do you define a documentary?

A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to “document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education, or maintaining a historical record”.

What is a documentary according to Grierson?

Grierson’s definition of documentary as “creative treatment of actuality” has gained some acceptance, though it presents philosophical questions about documentaries containing stagings and reenactments. Like many social critics of the time, Grierson was profoundly concerned about what he perceived to be clear threats to democracy.

What are Grierson’s criticisms of democracy?

Like many social critics of the time, Grierson was profoundly concerned about what he perceived to be clear threats to democracy. In the US, he encountered a marked tendency toward political reaction, anti-democratic sentiments, and political apathy.

How important is Grierson’s influence on British cinema?

Nonetheless, many critics see Grierson’s influence as crucial in the development of British cinema. His approach to documentary filmmaking has positioned a “realist” orientation as one of the fundamental tenets of what is often identified as British cinema.

Is Grierson’s criticism of dramatic fiction bourgeois excess?

In this regard, Grierson’s views align with the Soviet filmmaker Dziga Vertov ‘s contempt for dramatic fiction as “bourgeois excess”, though with considerably more subtlety.