
Bringing together an expansive range of writing by scholars, critics, historians, and filmmakers, The Documentary Film Reader presents an international perspective on the most significant developments and debates from several decades of critical writing about documentary. Each of the book's seven sections covers a distinct period in the history of documentary, collecting both contemporary and retrospective views of filmmaking in the era. And each section is prefaced by an introductory essay that explains its design and provides critical context. Painstakingly selected from the archives of more than a hundred years of cinema practice and theory, the essays, reviews, interviews, manifestos, and ephemera gathered in this volume suit the needs and interests of the beginning student, the advanced scholar, the casual reader, and the working documentarian.
This volume investigates the evolution of documentary cinema by curating a comprehensive collection of critical discourse, manifestos, and historical analysis spanning over a century of practice. Jonathan Kahana, a scholar in the field of cinema studies, organizes these primary and secondary sources to provide a structured framework for understanding how documentary film has been defined, debated, and transformed across different historical eras. The text serves as a pedagogical tool that bridges the gap between early theoretical foundations and contemporary critical perspectives.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and film students frequently cite this work as a foundational anthology for understanding the breadth of documentary theory. Experts highlight the editorial selection as a balanced resource that successfully integrates both historical documents and modern critical analysis.
Page Count:
1044
Publication Date:
2016-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190459328
ISBN-13:
9780190459321
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!