Issues in Contemporary Documentary

Documentary is fast changing: with the digital revolution and theenormous increase in Internet usage, the range of information andoutlets for distribution continues to become more diverse. In thiscontext, are the traditional themes and frequently irreconcilablecritical positions of study still valid – or are theychanging, and if so, how? In short, what are the issues fordocumentary studies now? The starting point of Issues in Contemporary Documentary isthat although documentary history cannot be ignored, the genreneeds to be understood as complex, multi-faceted, and influenced bya range of different contexts. Jane Chapman brings to life thechallenges of contemporary documentary in an accessible way bybalancing theoretical discussion with use of cutting edge materialfrom Europe and North America and the developing world. Whilst the need for critical appraisal of documentary is greaterthan ever before, Chapman believes that future discourses arelikely to be shared between academics and specialist onlinecommunities as viewers become makers, and both categories may alsobecome activists. Maintaining all parties can benefit from anawareness of continuity and change, she predicts that activistdocumentary will increasingly become a category to follow in thefuture.Each chapter contains recent international case studies, and thecontent evolves thematically with definitions, representation,objectivity, subjectivity, censorship, authorial voice,reflexivity, and ethics as headings. This free standing, innovativestudy can also be used in conjunction with Documentary inPractice (Polity 2007) by the same author. The two booksprovide an essential 2 volume introduction for all students andscholars of film and media, plus those practitioners seekinginsight into their craft.