A new history of documentary film / by Betsy A. McLane.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McLane, Betsy A.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Documentary films--History and criticism.

Documentary films.

Physical Description:

xv, 428 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 23 cm

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Continuum, [2012]

Summary:

A New History of Documentary Film, Second Edition offers a much-needed resource, considering the very rapid changes taking place within documentary media. Building upon the best-selling 2005 edition, Betsy A. McLane keeps the same chronological examination, factual reliability, ease of use and accessible prose style as before, while also weaving three new threads - Experimental Documentary, Visual Anthropology and Environmental/Nature Films-into the discussion. She emphasizes the importance of archival and preservation history, and deliniates present practices and future needs for documentaries. McLane has, once again, succeeded in making the history of the documentary accessible and understandable to all film lovers. Book jacket.

Contents:

Some ways to think about documentary. Description ; Definition ; Intellectual contexts ; Pre-documentary origins ; Books on documentary theory and general histories of documentary

The work of Robert and Frances Flaherty. The Flaherty way ; The Flaherty legacy ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

The Soviets and political indoctrination, 1922-1929. Reportage/newsreel ; Compilation ; Epic ; Fiction and documentary ; The fiction films ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

The European avant-garde experimentation, 1922-1929. Aesthetic predispositions ; Avant-garde and documentary ; Changes in the avant-garde ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Institutionalization : Great Britain, 1929-1939. Background and underpinnings ; The system ; The films ; Grierson and Flaherty ; Grierson's contribution ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Institutionalization USA, 1930-1941. The march of time ; Government documentaries ; Non-government documentaries ; Conclusions ; Denouement ; An aside to conclude ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

WW II. Part A: Great Britain ; Early days ; Indoctrination ; Social documentary ; Records of battle ; Part B: Canada ; Founding of National Film Board ; Theatrical series ; Nontheatrical films ; Summary ; Part C: United States ; Training ; Indoctrination - why we fight ; Records of battle ; Social documentary ; Comparisons: Great Britain, Canada, United States ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Post-war documentary, 1945-1961. Personnel and leadership ; Sponsorship ; USIA films ; Canada ; Subjects ; Internationalism ; Approaches and techniques ; Observations; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Documentary for television, the "golden years," 1951-1971. Historical background ; Documentary series ; Special characteristics of television documentary ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

British free cinema and new American cinema, 1953-1960. Critical background ; Free cinema films ; The United States ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Cinéma vérité, direct cinema, 1958-1970. Historical background ; New technology and first CV/direct ; Direct cinema vs. cinéma vérité ; Effects on documentary subjects and styles ; Frederick Wiseman ; Conclusion ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

The 1970s : power to the people. Some established filmmakers ; New directions in CV/direct ; Political emphases and Vietnam ; Newsreel collectives ; Feminist resurgence ; Challenge for change ; Public access television ; Other emerging organization ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Video arrives. Cable and satellite technology ; Personal essay film ; Compilation ; Strictly political ; Social and ethnic minorities ; Representing gay and lesbian culture ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Reality bytes. Business and technology : the bad and the good ; American public television ; Archival documentary ; The Ken Burns phenomenon ; Canada soldiers on ; Development in the U.K. ; American independents ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Documentary traditions in the twenty first century. Werner Herzog ; Steve James, Alex Gibney, Davis Guggenheim ; Erroll Morris, Sinofsky & Berlinger, Stanley Nelson ; Women documentarians ; Experimental documentary ; Theaters and festivals ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Now and when. Aesthetics and content ; Finance ; Documentary un-reality ; Peter Watkins ; Intimate doings of reality ; Academic approaches ; Emergent technologies ; Social media ; Commitment to history ; Conclusion ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books

Appendix 1: Academy Awards for best documentary feature

Appendix 2: The National Film Registry.

Notes:

First edition co-authored with Jack Ellis.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781441124579

1441124578

OCLC:

758646930

Publisher Number:

40021149845