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A new history of documentary film / Jack C. Ellis and Betsy A. McLane.

Van Pelt Library PN1995.9.D6 E46 2005
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Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Ellis, Jack C., 1922-2009.
Contributor:
McLane, Betsy A.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Documentary films--History and criticism.
Documentary films.
Physical Description:
xi, 385 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
Place of Publication:
New York : Continuum, [2005]
Summary:
A thorough and definitive survey/history of documentary films. Concentrating mainly on the output of the US, the UK, and Canada, the authors outline the origins of the form and then show its development over the next several decades. The book is completely up-to-date in discussing films like Fahrenheit 9/11 and Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer.
Contents:
Chapter 1 Some Ways to Think About Documentary 1
Description 1
Intellectual Contexts 4
Pre-documentary Origins 6
Books on Documentary Theory and General Histories of Documentary 9
Chapter 2 Beginnings: The Americans and Popular Anthropology, 1922-1929 12
The Work of Robert Flaherty 12
The Flaherty Way 22
Offshoots from Flaherty 24
Films of the Period 26
Books on the Period 26
Chapter 3 Beginnings: The Soviets and Political Indoctrination, 1922-1929 27
Nonfiction 28
Fiction 38
Films of the Period 42
Books on the Period 42
Chapter 4 Beginnings: The European Avant-Gardists and Artistic Experimentation, 1922-1929 44
Aesthetic Predispositions 44
Avant-Garde and Documentary 45
Three City Symphonies 48
End of the Avant-Garde 53
Films of the Period 55
Books on the Period 56
Chapter 5 Institutionalization: Great Britain, 1929-1939 57
Background and Underpinnings 57
The System 60
The Films 63
Grierson and Flaherty 70
Grierson's Contribution 73
Films of the Period 74
Books on the Period 75
Chapter 6 Institutionalization: United States, 1930-1941 77
Film on the Left 77
The March of Time 78
Government Documentaries 80
Nongovernment Documentaries 92
American and British Differences 97
Denouement 101
An Aside to Conclude 102
Films of the Period 103
Books on the Period 103
Chapter 7 Expansion: Great Britain, 1939-1945 105
Early Days 106
Indoctrination 109
Social Documentary 113
Records of Battle 115
Films of the Period 118
Books on the Period 119
Chapter 8 Expansion: Canada, 1939-1945 120
Founding of the National Film Board 121
Theatrical Series 122
Nontheatrical Films 125
Films of the Period 127
Books on the Period 128
Chapter 9 Expansion: United States, 1941-1945 130
Training 131
Indoctrination 131
Records of Battle 135
Social Documentary 138
Comparisons: Great Britain, Canada, the United States 141
Films of the Period 146
Books on the Period 147
Chapter 10 The Unfulfilled Promise: Postwar Documentary, 1945-1952 148
Personnel and Leadership 152
Sponsorship 155
Subjects 156
Approaches and Techniques 163
Films of the Period 164
Books on the Period 165
Chapter 11 In Pursuit of Excellence: National Film Board of Canada's Unit B, 1948-1964 167
Films of the Period 177
Books on the Period 177
Chapter 12 A New Channel: Documentary for Television, the "Golden Years," 1951-1971 179
Historical Background 180
Documentary Series 181
Special Characteristics of Television Documentary 189
Films of the Period 193
Books on the Period 195
Chapter 13 British Free Cinema and Social-Realist Features, 1956-1963 196
Critical Background 197
Free Cinema Films 197
Political and Cultural Context 203
Social-Realist Features 204
Films of the Period 206
Books on the Period 207
Chapter 14 Direct Cinema and Cinema Verite, 1960-1970 208
Historical Background 208
New Technology and First Films 210
Direct Cinema vs Cinema Verite 215
Effects on Documentary Subjects and Styles 218
Aesthetic and Ethical Considerations 222
Films of the Period 224
Books on the Period 225
Chapter 15 English-Language Documentary in the 1970s-Power of the People 227
Veteran Filmmakers 228
New Directions in Verite 235
Social and Political Emphases 242
Historical Documentary 252
Films of the Period 255
Books on the Period 256
Chapter 16 English-Language Documentary in the 1980s-Video Arrives 258
Cable and Satellite Technology 260
The Personal Essay Film 262
The Historical Film 265
Strictly Political 270
Racial and Ethnic Minorities 271
Representing Gay and Lesbian Culture 279
Music and Performance 287
Films of the Period 291
Books on the Period 292
Chapter 17 English-Language Documentary in the 1990s and Beyond-Reality Bytes 293
Business and Technology: The Bad and the Good 294
American Public Television 297
The Ken Burns Phenomenon 299
Canada Soldiers On 302
Developments in the United Kingdom 304
American Independents 310
Theatrical Documentary 316
Films of the Period 323
Books on the Period 324
Chapter 18 Some Other Ways to Think About Documentary 326
Technological Promises 327
Aesthetics and Content 328
Finance 330
Intimate Doings of Reality 332
Newer Theory 334
The Future 335
Books on the Period 339
1 Film Festivals 341
2 Academy-Award-Winning Documentaries 345
3 The National Film Registry 351
4 The Grierson Award 353
5 The Ida Awards 356.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
0826417507
0826417515
OCLC:
60348943

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