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Beyond Objectivity: The Contemporary Documentary

Presented by Bryn Mawr Film Institute at Bryn Mawr Film Institute

November 2-November 23, 2010

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The quizzical notion that the primary purpose of the documentary is to provide an objective account of real events rose to dominance in America in the 1960s, along with the influence of direct cinema as practiced by such filmmakers as the Maysles Brothers (Gimme Shelter). This inclination lingers today, but in the last forty years, new generations of documentarians have questioned the primacy of objectivity and introduced a variety of self-conscious, reflexive techniques that have permanently transformed the ever-shifting practice of documentary filmmaking. This course will examine the ways in which this diverse body of work has shattered old myths and often blurred the line between fiction and non-fiction and, in so doing, revealed fascinating (and sometimes frustrating) new means of expressing “the truth” through documentary. Filmmakers such as Errol Morris, Ross McElwee and Nick Broomfield, among others, will be discussed as we trace a convoluted path through this brave new world where no rule goes unchallenged. This four-week class is taught by Chris Long, M.A., a film critic and author.