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How have documentaries evolved over time in terms of style and content?

Krystal Coll

Documentaries have a rich history that dates back to the beginnings of cinema, and just as filmmaking as an art form has evolved, so have documentaries. Over time, the medium has changed tremendously in both terms of style and content.

In the early days of cinema, documentaries were very simple and rudimentary. They were often short, silent films produced for educational purposes that focused on basic scenes of everyday life, for example, a train journey or the tides coming in. But as the film industry grew, so did the possibilities for documentaries.

One innovation that had a tremendous impact on the style of documentaries was the development of sound. It was in the 1920s that sound film became possible, and this gave filmmakers the ability to include dialogue and narration, making documentaries more engaging and informative. This supplied viewers with access to new and diverse perspectives that didn't exist in silent documentaries.

Then in the 1930s, the documentary started to become more socially conscious, addressing the challenging issues of the era, such as the Great Depression, and political events like the rise of fascism in Europe and the Spanish Civil War. These documentaries attempted to give people more knowledge about what was happening in the wider world and urged them to act.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the portrait documentary emerged as another popular style. These documentaries concentrated on the life and work of an individual, set against the backdrop of societal issues. The audience was given insight into the person's experiences, opinions, and emotions, turning the individual into a hero, connecting with their story according to the social climate of the time.

Jumping forward to today, there’s no longer a one-dimensional approach to the documentary form. Innovations in technology have led to the emergence of hybrid documentaries including real-life stories with animation and dramatization. This has opened a new creative realm for filmmakers, generating films that experiment with form and stretch the boundaries of traditional documentary-making.

The documentary genre has experienced significant shifts in terms of content as well. While early documentaries were mainly factual and simplistic, modern documentaries tackle more diverse and complex subjects that many thought would be impossible to shine a light on. Today, documentaries mirror a wide range of social circumstances and are used as a platform to educate and expose facts and injustice. These documentaries use various tactics, such as investigative reporting, interviews, and expert testimony to help render complex subject matter understandable to viewers.

In conclusion, documentaries have undergone substantial changes in both style and content, reflecting shifts in technology, society, and culture. From the early days of cinema to today, the documentary continues to evolve and adapt, ensuring that its power to inspire, inform, and educate remains stronger than ever.