Reclaiming Popular Documentary

Reclaiming Popular Documentary is a collection of essays that argue that documentaries can be made for mainstream or commercial audiences, embracing an expanded definition of popular to include evolving forms such as web-docs, virtual reality, immersive journalism, viral media, interactive docs, and video-on-demand.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 406 pages
\n Publication date: 06 July 2021
\n Publisher: Indiana University Press
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Over the past two decades, the documentary genre has experienced a remarkable surge in popularity, largely attributed to the widespread availability of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. However, despite this surge, documentary studies have traditionally favored works that cater primarily to specialists and scholars. Reclaiming Popular Documentary challenges this long-standing tendency by demonstrating that documentaries can and should be created for mainstream or commercial audiences. Editors Christie Milliken and Steve Anderson, who consider popular documentary to be a subfield of documentary studies, embrace an expanded definition of popular to encompass the diverse range of documentary forms that have emerged in recent years, such as branded entertainment, fictional hybrids, and works that involve audience participation.

In their collection of essays, Milliken and Anderson address emerging documentary forms, including web-docs, virtual reality, immersive journalism, viral media, interactive docs, and video-on-demand. They provide critical tools for viewers to analyze contemporary documentaries and consider the persuasive techniques employed by these media. By bringing together perspectives of scholars and makers, Reclaiming Popular Documentary offers fresh insights and international perspectives on familiar texts, appealing to both media scholars and enthusiasts.

The book employs critical models that engage both media scholars and fans, making it an invaluable resource for anyone interested in exploring the world of documentaries. Whether you are a seasoned documentary viewer or a newcomer seeking to understand this dynamic genre, Reclaiming Popular Documentary provides valuable insights and perspectives that will enhance your appreciation and understanding of this powerful form of media.

\n Weight: 648g\n
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 29 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780253056887\n \n