Question

Which of the following distinguishes a documentary from traditional films?

a) Documentaries focus on real-life events and people, while traditional films often feature fictional narratives.
b) Documentaries are typically shorter in duration, while traditional films can be longer and more cinematic.
c) Documentaries are always shot in black and white, while traditional films use a wide range of color palettes.
d) Documentaries are known for their elaborate special effects, unlike traditional films.

Answer 1

Documentaries are distinguished from traditional films by their focus on real-life events and people rather than fictional narratives. They use a mix of filmed footage and narrative text to guide viewers through the subject matter.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main distinction between a documentary film and traditional films lies in their approach to the subject matter and the narrative style they employ. Option a) is the correct answer: Documentaries focus on real-life events and people, while traditional films often feature fictional narratives. Unlike ethnographic films, which are tied closely to the work of professional anthropologists, documentaries provide a broader view on various subjects, often including historical and narrative text to guide the audience through real events, life stories, and social phenomena. Documentaries also differ from documentary theatre in that they use filmed footage and interviews rather than live performances based on texts to convey their message.

Documentaries can be of any length and might use different color palettes, just like traditional films. Therefore, options b) and c) are inaccurate. Additionally, documentaries typically do not rely on elaborate special effects, as suggested in option d), because their primary aim is to present facts and reality rather than to create visually stunning or imaginary worlds.