Spectacle in the Cinematic Documentary

This thesis examines the cinematic documentary. It explores the creation of a cinematic documentary framework, examining the parameters of the cinematic documentary form. This is a term which, has been frequently used particularly over the last twenty years, arguably a golden age for the documentary, has no systematic definition in documentary literature. This thesis addresses that gap. This thesis also addresses the question of the cinematic documentary’s role in the development of the documentary within this proposed golden age.
In addressing this, it examines the definition, creation and function of spectacle, an element which this thesis identifies as a defining component of the cinematic documentary. Through an examination of the writing of Aristotle, Joyce, Gunning, Cowie and Sobchack, this thesis will identify how spectacle can be applied to the cinematic documentary.
It systematically addresses what s constitutes the cinematic documentary framework: the filmmaker, the narrative, the use of technology and the changing distribution landscape. It subsequently provides an assessment of spectacle with specific relation to how it could be present in the cinematic documentary.
As a result of this examination, this thesis presents a framework through which the cinematic documentary can be defined, with key elements being intimacy, immediacy and moments of revelation, alongside the visual and audio aspects of the documentary and how they enhance the conception of the real. With at the core of the cinematic documentary framework is the use and integration of spectacle by the filmmaker.