“The documentarist has a passion for what he finds in images and sounds – which always seem to him more meaningful than anything he can invent. It is in selecting and arranging his findings that he expresses himself. At the same time, if the film is to be documentary and not propaganda, this creative arrangement must result in work that adheres not only to standards of good storytelling, but also good journalism.” -Journalist/Author Erik Barnouw
In some of my past blog entries, I have addressed the notion that documentary films can change the way people see the world. This isn’t necessarily a particularly revolutionary idea, however, filmmakers can harness this medium to show an alternative perspective of reality, or make a historical/current event more understandable or manageable than can be shown in other mediums.
Similarly, documentaries are also forms of journalism, and can far more poignant and thought-provoking than some of their written counterparts. One particularly perception altering documentary I saw in the last year was called, “Fed Up.” This film was an introspective look into the obesity crisis. However, it approached it from an entirely different viewpoint than past films that have dealt with similar topics. The film placed the worldwide obesity academic into the context of sugar consumption. However, the film pointed fingers at the food industry and the government, rather than the consumers themselves.
This advocacy documentary stated that the food industry is responsible for our increased sugar consumption because it puts hidden sugar in processed foods, bombards us with advertising, favors profits over health, and lobbies against regulation. Sugar is an extremely addictive substance, and the food industry wanted to tap into this addictive substance to raise profits. Essentially, proving the theory that obesity is not the product of a lack of self-discipline, but rather of addiction.
This documentary garnered immense international attention, and quickly became one of the most talked about films to ever plague the nutrition industry. The documentary was mentioned in nearly every major media publication, and quickly became the focus of cookbooks, dieting talk shows and even potential government regulation. The new “sugar-free” diet has plagued the country, and will probably continue to do so in the years to come.
Essentially, documentaries can be looked at both as a type of journalism, and as a type of film. However, it is up to the documentarian to harness that power.
Below is “Fed Up” trailer:
