xv, 428 pages, [8] pages of plates : 23 cm

First edition co-authored with Jack Ellis

Includes bibliographical references and index

Some ways to think about documentary. Description ; Definition ; Intellectual contexts ; Pre-documentary origins ; Books on documentary theory and general histories of documentary -- The work of Robert and Frances Flaherty. The Flaherty way ; The Flaherty legacy ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- The Soviets and political indoctrination, 1922-1929. Reportage/newsreel ; Compilation ; Epic ; Fiction and documentary ; The fiction films ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- The European avant-garde experimentation, 1922-1929. Aesthetic predispositions ; Avant-garde and documentary ; Changes in the avant-garde ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Institutionalization : Great Britain, 1929-1939. Background and underpinnings ; The system ; The films ; Grierson and Flaherty ; Grierson's contribution ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books --Institutionalization USA, 1930-1941. The march of time ; Government documentaries ; Non-government documentaries ; Conclusions ; Denouement ; An aside to conclude ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- WW II. Part A: Great Britain ; Early days ; Indoctrination ; Social documentary ; Records of battle ; Part B: Canada ; Founding of National Film Board ; Theatrical series ; Nontheatrical films ; Summary ; Part C: United States ; Training ; Indoctrination -- why we fight ; Records of battle ; Social documentary ; Comparisons: Great Britain, Canada, United States ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Post-war documentary, 1945-1961. Personnel and leadership ; Sponsorship ; USIA films ; Canada ; Subjects ; Internationalism ; Approaches and techniques ; Observations; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Documentary for television, the "golden years," 1951-1971. Historical background ; Documentary series ; Special characteristics of television documentary ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- British free cinema and new American cinema, 1953-1960. Critical background ; Free cinema films ; The United States ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Cinéma vérité, direct cinema, 1958-1970. Historical background ; New technology and first CV/direct ; Direct cinema vs. cinéma vérité ; Effects on documentary subjects and styles ; Frederick Wiseman ; Conclusion ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- The 1970s : power to the people. Some established filmmakers ; New directions in CV/direct ; Political emphases and Vietnam ; Newsreel collectives ; Feminist resurgence ; Challenge for change ; Public access television ; Other emerging organization ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Video arrives. Cable and satellite technology ; Personal essay film ; Compilation ; Strictly political ; Social and ethnic minorities ; Representing gay and lesbian culture ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Reality bytes. Business and technology : the bad and the good ; American public television ; Archival documentary ; The Ken Burns phenomenon ; Canada soldiers on ; Development in the U.K. ; American independents ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Documentary traditions in the twenty first century. Werner Herzog ; Steve James, Alex Gibney, Davis Guggenheim ; Erroll Morris, Sinofsky & Berlinger, Stanley Nelson ; Women documentarians ; Experimental documentary ; Theaters and festivals ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Now and when. Aesthetics and content ; Finance ; Documentary un-reality ; Peter Watkins ; Intimate doings of reality ; Academic approaches ; Emergent technologies ; Social media ; Commitment to history ; Conclusion ; Chapter related films ; Chapter related books -- Appendix 1: Academy Awards for best documentary feature -- Appendix 2: The National Film Registry

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