Films/DVD Asylum

Purpose

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jbmcb

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In Reply to: For the 'Heavies' on this board: how can you take documentaries seriously? posted by Guy on December 2, 2005 at 03:08:48:

As with any film, you need to look at a documentary's purpose. If it's to educate, then it had better cough up some accuracy. If it's to generate interest in a subject, accuracy is secondary to engagement.
Look at Jacques Cousteau's early documentaries on underwater life, they were a bit short on facts but loaded with beauty and style, and generated quite a bit of interest (and money) for oceanographic research. The same could be said of current light science films such as Microcosmos.

/*Music is subjective. Sound is not.*/

Follow Ups:

Re: Purpose / Valid points and thanks for the examples... - Guy 21:08:07 12/03/05 (0)
but I wanted a comparison with one medium's presentation of 'reality' and the other's presentation of 'reality' [film Vs books]. However, you make a valid distinction: accuracy and interest in subject matter. The trouble for me is: interest that masquerades as accuracy.
Thanks for your comments.
Respect,
Guy
* Verbatim and not verboten *

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