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Issues in Contemporary Documentary

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Issues in Contemporary Documentary explores the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking amid the digital revolution and expanded internet usage. Jane L. Chapman examines whether traditional critical themes remain relevant or are shifting, presenting documentary as a complex, multi-faceted genre shaped by diverse contexts. Incorporating international case studies from Europe, North America, and the developing world, the book addresses key topics such as representation, objectivity, censorship, authorial voice, reflexivity, and ethics. Chapman highlights the emerging role of activist documentary and the blurring roles of viewers and makers in contemporary discourse.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This work serves as an essential introduction for students and scholars of film and media studies, as well as practitioners seeking deeper insight into documentary craft and theory. It is especially beneficial for those interested in the relationship between documentary practice and contemporary digital and activist contexts.

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Documentary is fast changing: with the digital revolution and the enormous increase in Internet usage, the range of information and outlets for distribution continues to become more diverse. This title presents the challenges of contemporary documentary.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Documentary is fast changing: with the digital revolution and the enormous increase in Internet usage, the range of information and outlets for distribution continues to become more diverse. In this context, are the traditional themes and frequently irreconcilable critical positions of study still valid, or are they changing, and if so, how? In short, what are the issues for documentary studies now?

The starting point of Issues in Contemporary Documentary is that although documentary history cannot be ignored, the genre needs to be understood as complex, multi-faceted, and influenced by a range of different contexts. Jane Chapman brings to life the challenges of contemporary documentary in an accessible way by balancing theoretical discussion with the use of cutting-edge material from Europe, North America, and the developing world.

Whilst the need for critical appraisal of documentary is greater than ever before, Chapman believes that future discourses are likely to be shared between academics and specialist online communities as viewers become makers, and both categories may also become activists. Maintaining that all parties can benefit from an awareness of continuity and change, she predicts that activist documentary will increasingly become a category to follow in the future.

Each chapter contains recent international case studies, and the content evolves thematically with definitions, representation, objectivity, subjectivity, censorship, authorial voice, reflexivity, and ethics as headings. This free-standing, innovative study can also be used in conjunction with Documentary in Practice (Polity 2007) by the same author. The two books provide an essential two-volume introduction for all students and scholars of film and media, plus those practitioners seeking insight into their craft.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised for updating documentary study with contemporary examples, the book is noted as particularly useful for journalism students and film historians alike. The Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television commends it as an important resource contextualising documentary issues today. Times Higher Education recommends it as an accessible undergraduate textbook with clear case studies and a broad-ranging account of key debates. John Corner of the University of Liverpool values its insider perspective on the ethical, creative, and technological challenges of documentary production.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780745640105

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 July 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Polity Press

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 173.0mm

Height: 246.0mm

Weight: 417g

Pages: 244

About the Author

Jane Chapman is Reader in Journalism Studies at the University of Lincoln.

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