Every factual program/ documentary is very different to the next; apart from them all providing some sort of fact. Some factual programs are very formal and have an older target audience; such as a David Attenborough’s nature programs which I believe are aimed at a target audience of 25+. The constant source of facts and formal atmosphere of this program would bore someone at the age of, say, 15. A factual program such as ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ would appeal more to this age range. A program of this sort may not seem like a factual program at first since you aren’t provided with fact after fact, however since you follow this family around and learn about their life, it is – it’s just a different genre of a factual program.
The main codes and conventions of a factual program are:
- Information – General supply of facts
- Interviews with specific people (People specialised in a certain area; professors ect).
- Public opinion (VOX POPS) – interviews with the public
- Formal Language
- Facts/ Factual, Data, quotes and source.
- Sign off
- PTC (Piece to Camera) – Anytime you see a presented talking to the camera.
- Cut aways- (C/A)
- Structure
- Narration
- Direct news piece – no music
I recently watched David Attenborough’s ‘First Life’, which, as previously mentioned, is a very formal documentary. A voice over is used frequently which is accompanied by cutaways. Graphics are often used during the voice overs since David Attenborough often talks about things that are now extinct, and existed a long time ago. The graphics provide visuals for the audience and help depict what the voice over describes. The cutaways are often very scenic and cinematic to keep the audiences attention and to depict what the voice over discusses in the best (and most beautiful) way possible. Even though a voice over is used a lot, David Attenborough still talks directly to the camera (Piece to Camera) to both introduce the show, letting the audience know who is narrating the whole show, and throughout different sections of the program which makes to documentary more personal. Music is a big part of this show as it created a desired atmosphere. It adds an almost story telling atmosphere to the program; Whenever I watch a David Attenborough show it always feels like I’m listening to my Grandad read me a book. Many dates and statistics are provided which adds to the formal structure of this program. Another code and convention used is interviews. The first interview shown is by Prof. Justin Marshall who goes into more detail about an older species which David Attenborough previously discussed. As well as this interview we see him scuba dive and demonstrate how to catch a certain type of shrimp, which is then followed by yet again more facts and figures. The interviews used in this program provide more information from specialist sources that Attenborough could not provide. The sign off for the show is very similar to the opening; Attenborough discusses the main adaptations of animals, (eyes, legs, ect), and the same graphic is shown of bacteria multiplying, creating an almost circular narrative.
I have never watched ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ but to evaluate the program however, I do need to watch an episode, so what better time to start than now… I’ll be watching Season 7 episode 19 since thats the most recent one I can find. It begins very loud and I have no idea who anyone is, but I’m focusing on the codes and conventions rather than anything else. I honestly don’t see how reality TV shows, especially this one, is counted as a factual programs because I don’t feel like I’m learning anything at all apart from gossip (kind of). An interview with Khloe appears 5 minutes in, which is done in front of a green screen and separate from the rest of the show. The audience learns more about Khloe’s views on the situation previously mentioned. I think this episode is where the whole family sit down and watch the previous episodes? Im really confused. Another few interviews take place where Khloe says something about Kim and it cuts to Kim saying something else about Khloe, making the show more humorous. Not many facts and figures are shown in this program; like I previously mentioned, it’s just gossip. There are many cutaways where one person will say something like “Remember all the places we went this year” and then short cutaways will show the ‘best bits’. A graphic is used in the bottom left hand corner saying ‘Never before seen’ which helps the audience distinguish between the cutaways and the main section of the show, and also informs the audience that this footage is only available from this specific episode. Before every advert break, one member of the family always creates a cliffhanger to engage the audience. Theres not much else that happens in the show, I feel like I’ve just wasted an hour or so of my life…
Those are the two extremes of factual programming. The reality TV side to the formal, intellectual side. There are many debates that reality TV shows shouldn’t be classed as factual as some people believe they are scripted or fixed. I personally agree. If you watch a factual program, I believe you should be able to come away having learnt something, rather than having spent an hour watching people being famous and rich without doing a fat lot. (Too Harsh?) Certain reality TV shows are made for entertainment purposes, and focus primarily on that – rather than the factual side. Therefore these shows become more ‘entertaining’ than factual and the truth could then become stretched, meaning the audience doesn’t learn a lot (But this doesn’t necessarily mean the program is bad… Just not factual).
Kerry Hatfield 