Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Kinross · 03-27-2003, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by azidhak
The view that documentaries should be objective is dated.

Is this some sort of newspeak? The defenition of a documentary is "objective".

Bookman · 03-27-2003, 05:59 AM

No, Adam, the defining characteristic of a documentary is that it is factual. It need not be objective.

In either event, however, it does not appear that Bowling fits the bill.

Bookman

King Rat · 03-27-2003, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Moore claims he was a sharp shooting instructor in the doc.

Ah, then it must be true. I stand corrected.

Kinross · 03-27-2003, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bookman
No, Adam, the defining characteristic of a documentary is that it is factual. It need not be objective.

In either event, however, it does not appear that Bowling fits the bill.

Bookman

I hate to use the dictionary argument, but it is the best way to find what some thing is.

documentary
1. Consisting of, concerning, or based on documents.
2. Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film.

dangin · 03-27-2003, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bookman
No, Adam, the defining characteristic of a documentary is that it is factual. It need not be objective.

In either event, however, it does not appear that Bowling fits the bill.

Bookman

Non objective facts are my favorite kind.

Does anyone remember when the student documentarians used Moore's tactics against him? They ambushed him at his offices, and he shut the door in their faces and had them removed. He seems to think there are two sets of rules, one for him, and another for everyone else.

HaysooChreesto! · 03-27-2003, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Novowels
Poisoning the well?

I don't have to poison Moore's well, he's doing fine by himself. If he wants to make an in bad taste spectacle of himself-which he has, then he has in effect thrown anthrax into his own water.

Bookman · 03-27-2003, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamSmith
I hate to use the dictionary argument, but it is the best way to find what some thing is.

documentary
1. Consisting of, concerning, or based on documents.
2. Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film.

Fair enough, but two can play at that game. Here's the definition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (which I'll assert is more relevant to the discussion).

Quote:

A documentary film is defined as a non-fiction motion picture dealing creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subjects. It may be photographed in actual occurrence, or may employ partial re-enactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is on factual content and not on fiction.

I think that the problem here may be a difference of thought on the word "objective". Here are the two parts of the relevant entry from your source, dictionary.com:

Quote:

a. Uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices: an objective critic.
b. Based on observable phenomena; presented factually: an objective appraisal.

I don't think that it is a reasonable requirement that documentarians be "uninfluenced by personal prejudice" -- I'm not even sure that that is possible! I would certainly agree that they must be objective in the second sense above, but I would argue that the word "factual" more clearly conveys this.

Bookman

Kinross · 03-27-2003, 09:09 AM

Where do you draw the line between documentary and propaganda?

Bookman · 03-27-2003, 09:30 AM

My initial response is that I'm not certain that they're mutually exclusive. I haven't given it much thought, though.

Bookman

Grad Student Humanist · 03-27-2003, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dangin
He seems to think there are two sets of rules, one for him, and another for everyone else.

So does the US government as they've proven time and time again.

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03-27-2003, 05:59 AM	#42
Bookman Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Nashville, TN, USA Posts: 2,210	No, Adam, the defining characteristic of a documentary is that it is factual. It need not be objective. In either event, however, it does not appear that Bowling fits the bill. Bookman

03-27-2003, 09:09 AM	#48
Kinross Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,281	Where do you draw the line between documentary and propaganda?

03-27-2003, 09:30 AM	#49
Bookman Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Nashville, TN, USA Posts: 2,210	My initial response is that I'm not certain that they're mutually exclusive. I haven't given it much thought, though. Bookman

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