The word documentary was coined by documentarian john grierson and defined as the creativity of actuality. Documentaries are problematic and the definition of documentaries is problematic. Information on john grierson s first principles of documentary from macdonald and cousins, imagining reality. He starts off by giving general examples of what is considered to be documentaries such as a shoot of a magazine item, newsreel item, educational or scientific film, to those of discursive or dramatized interests 99. John grierson s first principles as origin and beginning. John grierson was a pioneering scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film. Sep 15, 2017 john griersons minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text, 2 a short work that john corner describes as the foundational text of documentary theory. John grierson first principles of documentary 19321934 dixumentary is a clumsy description. Still, the definition of the term remains a vexed and controversial issue, not just among film theorists but also among people who make and watch documentaries. John grierson, first principles of documentary documents and. With over 80 carefully selected pieces from a cast of theorists ranging from andre bazin, siegfried kracauer, and maya deren to judith mayne, richard dyer, manthia diawara, and trinh minhha, critical visions has the most balanced and complete picture of film theory. Grierson was born in deanston, near doune, scotland.
This chapter discusses documentary cinema and film journalism, taking a look at the films produced by john grierson, such as night mail and coal face. And, in 1929, john grierson, the documentary film movements greatest champion, used his own film portrait of north sea fishing, drift ers, to convince the british government to establish a filmmaking unit. In a reference to the first principles of documentary making, grierson said that a documentary must be dramatic, and not merely instructional to promote a common thought or feeling among the audience members. Born the son of a headmaster in cambusbarron, near stirling, john grierson directed one of the first documentaries, drifters, set up the influential gpo film unit making night mail, and went on to. It has been nearly seven decades since john grierson first applied the term documentary to movies. The combination of classic thinkers and newer voices showcases the richness and diversity in film theory. French actualities or newsreels were called documentary views or les vues documentaires. The book charts the evolution of the documentary from screen art to core television genre, its metamorphosis into many different types of factual tv programmes and its current emergence in forms of new media. The aim of a documentary is to report something with evidence documentaries can use narration to anchor meaning. In other words he is saying that documentaries are an artistic way of revealing the truth that is usually hidden. Documentary develops robert flaherty and john grierson. It has been nearly seven decades since john grierson first applied the term.
We believe that the materials and the stories taken from the raw can be finer more real in the philosophic sense than the acted article. I think its inevitable that people will come to find the documentary a more compelling and more important kind of film than fiction. Ranking the documentary movement films as more or less significanta severely overused word in this bookaitken stumbles to a limp conclusion that griersons model of the relationship between documentary and the state, derived from a background of idealist philosophy, was. John grierson april 26, 1898 february 19, 1972 is often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film. A range of arguments have carried on since about the balance of creativity. In his essay first principles of documentary 19321934, grierson wrote that the genre is a clumsy description and that many have regarded all films made from natural. According to popular hearsay, the word documentary was first coined by scottish documentary filmmaker john grierson. Second and most important, the documentary is best used for propaganda. 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. John grierson, first principles of documentary 1933 the internet is a documentary.
One of the first attempts to explain documentary film was made in john griersons book first principles of documentary grierson, 1933 in which he developed three main principles of documentary and reasons why it has a big future as a genre of cinema. John grierson can be considered a characteristic european intellectual of the 1930s, a member of the generation born around the turn of the century which grew to maturity during the period of postwar pessimism, cynicism and disillusionment and came to occupy positions of influence then. He studied philosophy at glasgow university, but was drawn into filmmaking through postgraduate study in the us on the influence of mass media on public opinion. The film was moana and what grierson regarded as documentary value was its. The importance of evaluation for documentary film campaigns. John grierson, founder of the british documentaryfilm movement and its leader for almost 40 years. Grierson coined the term documentary, though he is not the first to use the term. Documentary develops robert flaherty and john grierson although robert flaherty is credited with being the father of the documentary, there had been actuality films since the very beginning of cinema. This feature film is a portrait of john grierson, the first canadian government film commissioner and founder of the national film board in 1939. In his essay first principles of documentary 19321934, grierson wrote that. It studies the idea of an intermodern sense of the complexity of actuality and also presents the possible interdisciplinary future. John grierson writer of first principles of documentary describes the term.
The french who first used the term only meant travelogue. Grierson also notes that the early documentary filmmakers were concerned about the way the world was going and wanted to use all the tools at hand to push the public towards greater civic participation. This is because problems arise of authenticity, the more creative the documentary is the more it runs away from focus. Even those who argue against griersons theories and practices cannot deny that he had a tremendous influence on the development of the documentary. Sep 25, 20 the word documentary was coined by documentarian john grierson and defined as the creativity of actuality. Critical visions in film theory, 1st edition macmillan.
The documentary handbook is a critical introduction to the documentary. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. John grierson born at deanston borders of stirling and perth on 26 april 1898. In his article called first principles of documentary, grierson discussed flaherty and the way he made documentaries2. John grierson 18981972 is the father of the british and canadian as well discover is a few weeks documentary movements. Critical visions in film theory edition 1 by timothy.
Interweaving archival footage, interviews with people who knew him and footage of grierson himself, this film is a sensitive and informative portrait of a. The lumiere brothers sent film crews around the world to bring audiences the wonders of the planet long before jets. Principals of documentary films flashcards quizlet. Theory of documentaries powerpoint linkedin slideshare. John grierson writer of first principles of documentary describes the term documentary as a clumsy description of films made from natural material. He is credited with initiating the 1930s british documentary film movement. John griersons first principles as origin and beginning. In fact, the selfsame sequence could in principle be used to begin.
Grierson s principles of documentary were that cinemas potential for observing life. John grierson first principles of documentary stan brakhage in consideration of aesthetics bill nichols from blurred boundaries performing documentary dogme 95 manifesto vow of chastity trinh t. John grierson documentary film maker made in perth. According to popular myth, in 1926, grierson coined the term documentary to describe a nonfiction film. Documentary writing across media wiki fandom powered by. John griersons minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text, 2 a short work that john corner describes as the foundational text of documentary theory.
Griersons principles of documentary were that cinemas potential for observing life. From psychoanalysis to performativity sigmund freud on fetishism. John grierson john grierson entered the university of glasgow, where he developed a sense. J grierson date 1979 page start 35 page end 46 is part of book title grierson on documentary authors grierson, john, hardy, forsyth date 1979 publisher faber pub place london etc. John grierson s minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text, 2 a short work that john corner describes as the foundational text of documentary theory. The exponential increase in academic discussion of documentary since. He was one of the first to see the potential of motion pictures to shape peoples attitudes toward life and to urge the use of films for educational purposes. In a reference to the first principles of documentarymaking, grierson said that a documentary must be dramatic, and not merely instructional to promote a common thought or feeling among the audience members. Ranking the documentary movement films as more or less significanta severely overused word in this bookaitken stumbles to a limp conclusion that griersons model of the relationship between documentary and the state, derived from a background of idealist philosophy, was unrealistic and utopian. Pdf is the documentary film, as stated by john grierson. Types and styles of documentaries origins john grierson, a key figure in the british documentary school, is thought to have been the first to use the term to describe a film by robert flaherty in 1926, which he described as having documentary value. As early as 1902 and 1903 the term documentary was being used. John grierson founder of the british documentary film movement its leader for 40 years one of the first 1 to see the potential of motion pictures to shape peoples attitudes 2 to urge the use of films for educational purposes educated at the university of glasgow and university of chicago.
Grierson also notes that the early documentary filmmakers were concerned about the way the world was going and wanted to use all the tools at hand to. His principles of documentary were a cinemas potential for observing life could be retold in a whole new perspective and with the belief that the original actor and original scene are better guides than their. Documentary writing across media wiki fandom powered by wikia. Minhha documentary isnot a name part 8 sexuality and gender in cinema. His 1932 essay first principles of documentary argued that cinemas. With bill paterson, eleanor beattie, kirwan cox, norris davidson. The exploration into the concept of the reality that is documentary film and the level of creative treatment as mentioned by film historian john grierson that is applied throughout the chronology since the conception of documentary cinema. From this came our insistence on the drama of the doorstep cited by hardy 1415. Three patriarchs of documentary film john grierson, robert flaherty and dziga vertov mark the genesis of a burning debate that has smoldered for seventy years. Principals of documentary films study guide by filipinostudybudy includes 5 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more.
In his essay first principles of documentary 1932, grierson argued that the principles of documentary. John grierson cbe 26 april 1898 19 february 1972 was a pioneering scottish documentary. May 22, 2014 born the son of a headmaster in cambusbarron, near stirling, john grierson directed one of the first documentaries, drifters, set up the influential gpo film unit making night mail, and went on to. The power and potential of performative documentary film by. I think its inevitable that people will come to find the documentary a. John grierson 26 april 1898 19 february 1972 was a pioneering scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film. John grierson cbe 18981972 was born in perthshire, scotland, son of a local school headmaster. Pdf john griersons first principles as origin and beginning. John grierson and the public relations industry in britain. Definitions of genres like the western and film noir are. In 1927, grierson was employed as an assistant films officer of the empire marketing. Grierson on documentary john grierson, forsyth hardy. Ethics of filmmakersubject relationships in documentary the. It them a solid highsounding excuse for the shimmying and otherwise discursive exoticisms the vieu,x colombier.
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