In short, there is much more to the concept of documentary than simple documented fact, as compared to, say, the official likeness recorded in a passport photograph. He coined the noun documentary, of which genre his industrial britain and song of ceylon are notable examples. Citeseerx document details isaac councill, lee giles, pradeep teregowda. And i shall try to point to some of the more specific sources of his thinking in this context. John grierson definition of john grierson by the free.
Sep 15, 2017 john griersons minor manifesto of beliefs, first principles of documentary 193234, is one such text, 2 a short work that john corner describes as the foundational text of documentary theory. Brian winston brian winston describes the origins, development and current state of documentary cinema, and the social, political, industrial and ethical factors that determine its production. The documentary as the creative treatment of actuality pt. Grierson was a socialist activist and his attitude to life reflected the way he understood documentary and its function. The production and reception of the film is documented by s.
The aim of this article is to add to existing discussions of this phrase. After drifters, grierson directed only one more film himself but would influence and guide hundreds of others. Filmmaker john grierson defined documentary filmmaking as the creative treatment of actuality, which has come to be the most apt descriptor for the wide range of films about real life and. A contemporary account of its making albeit not a very reliable one was provided by g. Attention will be given to documentary as art, and the griersonian notion of artist. Griersons definition of documentary as creative treatment of actuality has gained some acceptance, though it presents philosophical questions about documentaries containing stagings and reenactments.
She quotes john grierson, the scottish filmmaker known as the father of english documentary, as having stated how a documentary is a creative treatment of actuality. Grierson s definition of the form still holds up today. This broadly used term could simply be interpreted as the way the film maker is able to create a display of artistic elements, from the. John griersons which is generally accepted as being the father of the documentary genre characterized it as the creative treatment of actuality. Documentary is the creative treatment of actuality. Experimental film an overview sciencedirect topics. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. A profile of john grierson, godfather of doccinema videomaker. Grierson hypothesized that via documentary film, the potential of a cinema for viewing life could be utilized within a new form of art i. John grierson cbe 26 april 1898 19 february 1972 was a pioneering scottish documentary maker, often considered the father of british and canadian documentary film.
What are some of the pleasures that viewing a documentary film offer the spectator. Refer to the films you have studied for this topic. Grierson, the scottish filmmaker known as the father of english documentary, as having stated how a documentary is a creative treatment of actuality. Grierson defined documentary as the creative treatment of actuality. Here griersons use of the term actuality to reference recorded material in his controversial definition of the documentary the creative treatment of actuality proves particularly insightful. John grierson s definition of the documentary as the creative treatment of actuality appears increasingly inadequate in the face of theoretical sophistication, ethical quagmires and digitals undermining of the photographic images intrinsic claim on the real. He believed in the social responsibility of the filmmaker within documentary, to create something which highlights the potential of film within democratic ideals. John grierson s ideology can only be understood within this larger intellectual climate. Although such actuality films are considered to be precursors of the documentary film, the documentary as a genre first came into existence by rigorously differentiating itself from the actuality.
The man who once defined documentary as a creative treatment of actuality was also the man who terrorized and inspired the first generation of english speaking documentary filmmakers. The first question that comes to my mind is why did he use the term actuality and not reality. Interactive documentary and its limited opportunities to. John grierson cbe 26 april 1898 19 february 1972 was a pioneering scottish documentary.
The creative treatment of actuality jessicachandlers weblog. John grierson, widely considered to be the father of the documentary, defined the form as the creative treatment of actuality. Griersons the creative treatment of actuality, is determining just what consti. While griersons musings on nonfiction film are certainly relevant in the study of documentary tradition, it must be compared to other theories order to. I have edited the implication that vertov described documentary as the creative treatment of actuality not grierson out of the sentence griersons views align with vertovs conteriersons definition of documentary as creative treatment of actuality has gained some acceptance, though it presents philosophical questions about documentaries.
John grierson, documentary cinema and fact in the 1930s find, read and cite all. The creative treatment of actuality in 1926, grierson described a documentary as the creative treatment of actuality. Principals of documentary films study guide by filipinostudybudy includes 5 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. John grierson, the scottish film pioneer who turned government film bureaucrat when he was asked to institute the national film board of. Grierson s the creative treatment of actuality, is determining just what consti tutes actuality. The first includes character studies and city symphonies, the second includes allegorical fiction films like spike lees school daze 1988, the third brings the difficult question of what part of a. Although filmmaking of this type dates to the earliest years of cinema see actualities. Dec 28, 2011 grierson is a 1973 documentary about the father of documentary by canadian filmmaker roger blais, now free online in its entirety courtesy of the national film board of canada. Grierson s definition of documentary as creative treatment of actuality has gained some acceptance, though it presents philosophical questions about documentaries containing stagings and reenactments. John griersons ideology can only be understood within this larger intellectual climate. Griersons definition of documentary as creative treatment of actuality has gained. Historically the term documentary was defined by john grierson in 1926 as creative treatment of actuality. Sep 14, 2008 john grierson, widely considered to be the father of the documentary, defined the form as the creative treatment of actuality.
John grierson, the man behind the documentary movement in britain in the 1930s provided the first definition that proves most popular. A profile of john grierson, godfather of doccinema. John grierson, documentary cinema and fact in the 1930s 2009 edinburgh university press edinburgh intext. Examining the foundations of documentary film through the. Foreplays is a column that explores underknown short films by renowned directors. None of these definitions is completely satisfactory. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Other explana tions of the documentary method, such as paul rothas,4 are not broad enough to include modern developments. Flaherty, when grierson spoke of a creative treatment of actuality. Historically, the term documentary was defined by john grierson in 1926 as creative treatment of actuality. Grierson, the father of english documentary, defines documentary as a creative work of nonfiction or the creative treatment of actuality. As defined by john grierson, its founding father, the documentary is the creative treatment of actuality. Documentary approach to cinema differs from that of storyfilm not in its disregard for craftsmanship, but in the purpose to which that craftsmanship is put.
It not only has the virtue of brevity, but also incorporates both documentarys connection to the real world actuality and the filmmakers inevitable shaping influence creative treatment. After watching robert flahertys 1926 feature moana, a comingofage story wherein a samoan boy and his family play themselves and reenact their own lives, grierson declared documentary to be, a creative treatment of actuality. An examination of the relationship between art, creativity and documentary production and consumption will. Griersons definition of the form still holds up today. Definition of actuality in the legal dictionary by free online english dictionary and encyclopedia. The films place in the context of propaganda policy. This definition points to the fact that documentary films, like all nonfiction genres, have a special and more direct reference to reality than even the most realistic fictional film, but that on the other hand all documentary films. What are some of the key issues raised by this definition for spectators of documentary. This new edition addresses the ethical quagmires, digital technologies and proliferating forms that have transformed documentary cinema. Documentary approach to cinema differs from that of storyfilm not in its disregard for craftsmanship, but in. British warpropaganda, historical journal of film, radio and television, 3. It is the creative treatment of actuality eitzen, 1995.
Griersons much quoted definition of documentary as a creative treatment of actuality3 is shallow and vague when applied to the various approaches to documentary since the early 1920s. Claiming the real ii describes the origins, development and current state of documentary cinema, and the social, political, industrial and ethical factors that determine its production. Perhaps the most useful definition, then, is the one offered by grierson. For this we have to take a look at the definition of actuality. May 24, 2016 grierson defined documentary as the creative treatment of actuality. Grierson is a 1973 documentary about the father of documentary by canadian filmmaker roger blais, now free online in its entirety courtesy of the national film board of canada. Pdf interactive documentary and its limited opportunities. Every representation of reality is no more than a fiction in the sense that it is an artificial construct, a highly contrived and selective view of the world, produced for some purpose and therefore unavoidably reflecting a given. This chapter discusses documentary cinema and film journalism, taking a look at the films produced by john grierson, such as night mail and coal face. Comm381 a2 english bibliographies cite this for me. But grierson also, of course, had his own personal background and academic training. While it may seem as if grierson believes nonfiction films to portray life itself, he actually champions documentary film as the creative treatment of actuality ellis 5. John grierson synonyms, john grierson pronunciation, john grierson translation, english dictionary definition of john grierson. Grierson s much quoted definition of documentary as a creative treatment of actuality 3 is shallow and vague when applied to the various approaches to documentary since the early 1920s.
Like many social critics of the time, grierson was profoundly concerned about what he perceived to be clear threats to democracy. Through archival footage, interviews with people who knew him, and footage of grierson himself, blais paints a lively and fascinating portrait of a man who was concerned. Hardy, 1979 the creative treatment is the production of. This definition by grierson has gained a great deal of popularity. Actuality is not synonymous with reality, or the world totalizing categories that displace us from the phenomenological surface of. I have edited the implication that vertov described documentary as the creative treatment of actuality not grierson out of the sentence grierson s views align with vertovs conteriersons definition of documentary as creative treatment of actuality has gained some acceptance, though it presents philosophical questions about documentaries. It studies the idea of an intermodern sense of the complexity of actuality and also presents the possible interdisciplinary future for intermodernism studies. Request pdf on oct 5, 2009, laura marcus and others published the creative treatment of actuality. John griersons definition of the documentary as the creative treatment of actuality appears increasingly inadequate in the face of theoretical sophistication, ethical quagmires and digitals undermining of the photographic images intrinsic claim on the real. The cameras selective abilities, enabling the multiplicity of reality to be presented in manageable form, facilitates a portrayal of its real life subject in which subjective manipulation is.
Grierson used the term in reference to a flm by robert j. It studies the idea of an intermodern sense of the complexity of actuality and also presents the possible interdisciplinary future. John griersons first principles as origin and beginning. Principals of documentary films flashcards quizlet. John griersons classic definition of documentary as the creative treatment of actuality emphasizes both the genres indexical link to reality and the makers perspective on this reality.
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