The Contexts of Film

The Contexts of Film

The Influence of Historical Context

• Understand that documentary films do not exist in a vacuum but are influenced by the historical period they are created in.
• Illustrate the impact of significant events, such as war, social unrest, technological advances, by using examples from different documentaries.
• Analyse how historical events contribute to the audience’s understanding and interpretations of a documentary.

Social and Cultural Contexts

• Identify the influence of social and cultural context on both the creation and reception of documentaries.
• Evidently note how societal divisions such as class, race, gender, and sexuality can affect the subject matter of documentaries and the perspective they are presented from.
• Understand how audience characteristics, such as generational differences, can affect the reception and understanding of documentaries.

Institutional Contexts

• Comprehend that the institutional context such as the film industry, funding bodies, and distribution mechanisms, can influence the production and circulation of documentary films.
• Explain the relation between popularity of a documentary with aspects such as marketing, box office revenue and critical reception.
• Understand the role of festivals, awards, and critics in the popularity and recognition of documentaries.

Impact of Technological Advances

• Understand how the evolution of film technology has influenced the style and substance of documentaries.
• Analyse how changes in technology, such as transitioning from film to digital, changes the accessibility and ease of documentary filmmaking.
• Discuss the role of platforms such as streaming services and social media in the distribution and popularity of contemporary documentaries.

Interaction of Contexts

• Acknowledge how different contexts are interrelated and reflect upon the cumulative impact of these multiple contexts on a given documentary film.
• Note how the relevance and interpretation of a documentary may change over time as the historical, social, or institutional contexts change.
• Incorporate a global perspective and consider how international and country-specific contexts influence documentary films.