What is a Documentary? 

There are six main documentary modes and these include the observational, expository, participatory, performative, reflexive and poetic mode. However, for my documentary I will either be making an observational or participatory mode so I will be focusing on these two in this blog post. 

Observational Mode 

The observational mode is referred to direct cinema by Erik Barnow and this stresses the nonintervention of the filmmaker. They invalid direct engagement with the everyday life of subjects and an example is observing a lifestyle with an unobtrusive camera. This gives the viewer an opportunity to look n or overheard something of the lives experience of others and the viewers gain some sense of the distinct rhythms of everyday life. An example of an observational documentary is Gogglebox as there is an unobtrusive camera watching families activities, however this has been argued that it doesn't inform the audience with any information, it's main purpose is to entertain so does this make it a real documentary? 

Participatory Mode 

In the participatory mode, the filmmaker does interest with the subjects and the interaction is present within the film as their is usually meaning create through the collaboration between the filmmaker and contributor. An example of a participatory documentary is Lift by Marc Issacs as the description for this is: "A quietly fascinating meditation on the mundanities of London life. Installing himself inside the lift of a high-rise block of council flats, Isaacs and his camera patiently observe the residents as they go about their daily business. As each of his subjects enters the lift, it's interesting to note their reactions to him being there; some are suspicious, others curious, and then there are those who seem more comfortable in his presence."