J286 History of Documentary

The course covers the evolution of primarily U.S. documentary film, from the origins of moving images to the present documentary landscape, with special attention to feature-length films. We will concentrate on the art, craft, and practical challenges of producing documentaries for wide distribution, and will unpack documentary materials, producing, storytelling, point-of-view and ethics. We will also analyze and critique the prevailing narratives that documentary film both constructs and deconstructs. The course is a prerequisite for graduate students who are considering specializing in documentary. Students who do not take history of documentary cannot pursue the documentary track. J-School TV students have priority, then other J-school students.