Mary Jackson Pitts, Ph.D.

mpitts@astate.edu

[ Home ] [ Up ]

documentary ethics

mary jackson pitts

 Reality

n     What is reality?  It is what you believe it is.

n     Wolverton says we make our own realit

u  Our perceptions are filtered through our system of beliefs.

Reality

n     Also suggested is that what’s on tape is not reality but reality exposed to our method of questioning

n     Documentaries can create reality for people.

Our belief systems   

n      Gans, Herbert J. (1988). The messages behind the news.  In C. Deming & S. Becker (Eds.), Media in society.  Glenview, ILL: Scott, Foresman/ Little, Brown College Division.

u   Values

Values

n     Ethonocentrism

n     Altruistic democracy

n     Responsible capitalism

n     Smalltown pastoralism

n     Individualism

n     Moderation

n     Social Order

n     Leadership

James Carey’s definition of communication

n      Communication is a symbolic process whereby reality is produced, maintained, repaired and transformed.(Carey, 1975, p. 10)

 Two means of communications

u  Transmission view

u  Ritual view

Can our reality hurt someone else?

n     Know all sides although the objective documentary is not possible you should strive to have some balance if possible.  Remember to research up until the final edit is made.

 Glasser and  Ettema

n         Glasser, Theodore L. & Ettema, James S. (1991). Investigative journalism and the moral order.  In  R. K. Avery & D. Eason (Eds.), Critical perspectives on media and society.  New York: Guilford Press.

 Enduring values

n     We use values to make value judgements amount people.

n     Often journalist hide behind these values that Gans notes in defense of objectivity.

n     Using our values we can become crafters of public morality.

u  The documentary can create public morality

Ettema and Glasser

n     The two folks suggest that investigative journalists attempt to ask the underlying questions, not the superficial.  Not the obvious.

Application of concept

n     Don’t fall into the trap of  journalists who hide behind values. 

n     As you produce your documentary, produce a documentary that is fair and truthful.  You may have to indicate whether something is true or is a sincere subjective perception.

n     Intricate issue provide balance.  Don’t be superficial

 Litchtenburg

n     Lichtenburg, Judith. (1991).  In defense of objectivity.  In J. Curran & M. Gurevitch (eds.).  Mass Media and Society.  London: Edward Arnold.    

 Can objectivity be obtained?

n     Objectivity is not possible?

u  Her claims is that to deny that objectivity exists is to deny that any journalism is truthful.

u  She believes that while people have different perspectives they can still obtain a level of subjectivity.

 Can objectivity be obtained?

n       One single answer may not exist

n     “p 223 Some questions have right answer, and that all questions have wrong answers.

n     How extensive is the realm of objective fact?

n      

 Calvin Pryluck

n     Documentarists are like, physicians, sociologist, and psychologist in that the scientific experiments and direct cinema depend for their success on subjects who have little or nothing to gain from participation.

Forms of director ship

n     Cinema Verite– creating reality

u  Participants and filmmaker work together.

« Interaction between those in and those creating the documentary.

n     Direct Cinema --documenting reality..  Fly on the wall.

Ethical consideration

n     Talent consent—

   Right to privacy

n      how much, to whom and when disclosures will be made.

u    Issue of exploitation

« Harassment, humiliation, shame and dignity

n     Editing approaches