The Power of Documentaries Comes from the Fact that They are Grounded in Fact, Not Fiction

This paper examines the distinctive power of documentaries compared to fiction films, emphasizing their authenticity. Documentaries are often perceived as more credible due to their use of real images and sounds, which leads audiences to trust the content presented. However, the author draws on multiple scholarly perspectives to argue that the truthfulness of documentaries can be subjective, much like that of fiction films. The paper also analyzes the educational and transformative roles of documentaries in society, highlighting key differences between documentaries and fiction films in terms of information dissemination, visual representation, and audience interaction. Through this analysis, the paper concludes that the strength of documentaries stems from their portrayal of the real world, setting them apart from the imaginative nature of fiction films.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Education and Humanities
Published
2024-10-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.54097/9k55f546
Primary Topic
Cinema and Media Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

The Power of Documentaries Comes from the Fact that They are Grounded in Fact, Not Fiction

Zijiang Yang
International Journal of Education and Humanities
Cinema and Media Studies
article

The Power of Documentaries Comes from the Fact that They are Grounded in Fact, Not Fiction

Zijiang Yang
article en

Abstract

This paper examines the distinctive power of documentaries compared to fiction films, emphasizing their authenticity. Documentaries are often perceived as more credible due to their use of real images and sounds, which leads audiences to trust the content presented. However, the author draws on multiple scholarly perspectives to argue that the truthfulness of documentaries can be subjective, much like that of fiction films. The paper also analyzes the educational and transformative roles of documentaries in society, highlighting key differences between documentaries and fiction films in terms of information dissemination, visual representation, and audience interaction. Through this analysis, the paper concludes that the strength of documentaries stems from their portrayal of the real world, setting them apart from the imaginative nature of fiction films.

International Journal of Education and HumanitiesVol. 16(3)
Queen's University Belfast (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Cinema and Media Studies
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