The Three Dimensions of Authenticity in Documentary Production

Authenticity is the lifeblood of documentaries, and the authenticity in documentary creation is a dynamic reality that is interpreted. The state it presents directly depends on the creator's understanding, perception, and feelings about the real world. Thus, the subjective differences in creators' perceptions of authenticity inevitably imbue documentary creation with a 'viewing from one's own perspective 'and subjective hues, resulting in documentaries with different levels and types. Creators' understanding and feelings about life and the world can be roughly divided into three realms: 'seeing mountains as mountains,' 'seeing mountains not as mountains,' and 'seeing mountains still as mountains.' These correspond to three types of documentary creation: objective reality, subjective reality, and absolute reality. This article not only analyzes these three levels of documentary creation but also emphasizes that most documentary works focus on representing objective and subjective reality, with very few pursuing the absolute truth of facts. It also discusses how documentaries serve as a place for memory, providing a space for spiritual exploration, imbuing documentaries with the poetry of life and living.