Analysis of the (Nature) Documentary Dynasties
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The BBC nature documentary Dynasties is extremally interesting and follows many of the codes and conventions of the documentary genre, many of which you can see in this short 3 minute clip I took from one of their episodes.
It opens with a long shot allowing us as an audience to get a good view of the exotic location, in which we aren't familiar with. This is a use and gratification as it allows us to escape from our everyday lives. We are also able to see the lion, a creature in which many of us don't come into contact with on a day to day basis building on this exotic, magical environment.
The well-known voice over of David Attenborough alone, will engage viewers as he has such a positive reputation particularly in the area of documentaries. His voiceover is calm and soothing helping to relax the viewers as well as to inform and educate them about the scenery in which we are so unfamiliar with.
The diegetic sound of the splash made by the lion as well as the diegetic sound of the birds singing helps to make the documentary more realistic for the viewers, making them believe that they are actually there in the wild with the lion.
The close up of the lion is rather astonishing for the viewers to see as its something so out of the ordinary for them. The unfocused mise-en-scene keeps the audiences concentration on the creature allowing them to take in and appreciate every moment in which they're seeing.
The close up of the lion is followed by a close up of a hyenas, this continues to create an exotic atmosphere, as well as a realistic atmosphere as again we hear the diegetic sound being made by the animal.
The mid-shots and long-shots allow us to see how the creatures move and react in certain situations this helps to educate the audience about the animals on the screen.
Non-diegetic music is added to build up tension as the pack of hyenas begin to surround the lion. The music creates a sense of danger and urgency and all of sudden without David even informing us we get a hint that lions life is at risk, this helps create emotion as the viewers feel like they now know the lion and that have built a relationship with the animal, this keeps the audience interested and engaged and is why it is important to emphasise the reality of what is going on.
Another close up of the lion is displayed on the screen and it's almost like we can see the fear in his eyes, this is becomes quite heart-aching for the viewers as they have now learnt that animals, no matter how big and strong do feel emotion.
Although voiceovers are a code and convention of documentaries David Attenborough doesn't speak huge amounts in this clip. I personally believe that for this documentary that's a very effective decision as the lack of the human voice helps to make the clip more realistic, because if you were physically in the wild you wouldn't have a person explaining everything to you. I think in this situation as well it's perfectly clear what's going on (the lion is in danger as it's being surrounding by hyenas) and therefore there's no need for an explanation.
Factual information is often provided in documentaries. In this episode of Dynasties David makes a shocking, hard-hitting statement informing the audience that the amount of hyenas present could kill the lion, this is an emotional fact for the audience to hear but it keeps them involved as they are intrigued to see if he manages to survive especially at this point as they are becoming more attached to the creature.
In a strange sort of way we as an audience can feel some sort of identification with the lion, especially when a close up of his 'friend' (another lion) appears. This builds on the devastating emotion in which the viewers are experiencing as many of them will have an unfortunate understanding of what it's like to see a friend or family member at risk.
The non-diegetic music takes a turn in it's tone as it now becomes more uplifting and triumphant, as the odds change as there's now 2 lions against the pack of hyenas. The 2 different mammals act as binary oppositions (Levi-Strauss theory) the lions being good-willed creatures (hero's) and the hyenas being represented as villains (Props theory)
The close ups and mid shots of the 2 lions showing affection to one another again is something in which the audience can identify with, the personal identification will create a joyous feeling for the audience as they are relieved that both of the lions are safe and victorious.
David giving the lion a name: Red, helps to create a bond between the animal and the audience as they feel as if the know him on a more personal note.
This documentary follows Todorov's theory as the lion starts off with an equilibrium, which is disrupted by the hyenas, however this problem is resolved and the lion soon goes back to a happy equilibrium. This documentary is very educational as it informs us about nature and how animals in the wild live and survive. It also gives us the chance to escape from our everyday lives taking us somewhere magnificent and magical, on top of this it gives us personal identification as well as social interaction (due to the wide number of views in which his documentary gained) and of course entertainment.
The BBC nature documentary Dynasties is extremally interesting and follows many of the codes and conventions of the documentary genre, many of which you can see in this short 3 minute clip I took from one of their episodes.
It opens with a long shot allowing us as an audience to get a good view of the exotic location, in which we aren't familiar with. This is a use and gratification as it allows us to escape from our everyday lives. We are also able to see the lion, a creature in which many of us don't come into contact with on a day to day basis building on this exotic, magical environment.
The well-known voice over of David Attenborough alone, will engage viewers as he has such a positive reputation particularly in the area of documentaries. His voiceover is calm and soothing helping to relax the viewers as well as to inform and educate them about the scenery in which we are so unfamiliar with.
The diegetic sound of the splash made by the lion as well as the diegetic sound of the birds singing helps to make the documentary more realistic for the viewers, making them believe that they are actually there in the wild with the lion.
The close up of the lion is rather astonishing for the viewers to see as its something so out of the ordinary for them. The unfocused mise-en-scene keeps the audiences concentration on the creature allowing them to take in and appreciate every moment in which they're seeing.
The close up of the lion is followed by a close up of a hyenas, this continues to create an exotic atmosphere, as well as a realistic atmosphere as again we hear the diegetic sound being made by the animal.
The mid-shots and long-shots allow us to see how the creatures move and react in certain situations this helps to educate the audience about the animals on the screen.
Non-diegetic music is added to build up tension as the pack of hyenas begin to surround the lion. The music creates a sense of danger and urgency and all of sudden without David even informing us we get a hint that lions life is at risk, this helps create emotion as the viewers feel like they now know the lion and that have built a relationship with the animal, this keeps the audience interested and engaged and is why it is important to emphasise the reality of what is going on.
Another close up of the lion is displayed on the screen and it's almost like we can see the fear in his eyes, this is becomes quite heart-aching for the viewers as they have now learnt that animals, no matter how big and strong do feel emotion.
Although voiceovers are a code and convention of documentaries David Attenborough doesn't speak huge amounts in this clip. I personally believe that for this documentary that's a very effective decision as the lack of the human voice helps to make the clip more realistic, because if you were physically in the wild you wouldn't have a person explaining everything to you. I think in this situation as well it's perfectly clear what's going on (the lion is in danger as it's being surrounding by hyenas) and therefore there's no need for an explanation.
Factual information is often provided in documentaries. In this episode of Dynasties David makes a shocking, hard-hitting statement informing the audience that the amount of hyenas present could kill the lion, this is an emotional fact for the audience to hear but it keeps them involved as they are intrigued to see if he manages to survive especially at this point as they are becoming more attached to the creature.
In a strange sort of way we as an audience can feel some sort of identification with the lion, especially when a close up of his 'friend' (another lion) appears. This builds on the devastating emotion in which the viewers are experiencing as many of them will have an unfortunate understanding of what it's like to see a friend or family member at risk.
The non-diegetic music takes a turn in it's tone as it now becomes more uplifting and triumphant, as the odds change as there's now 2 lions against the pack of hyenas. The 2 different mammals act as binary oppositions (Levi-Strauss theory) the lions being good-willed creatures (hero's) and the hyenas being represented as villains (Props theory)
The close ups and mid shots of the 2 lions showing affection to one another again is something in which the audience can identify with, the personal identification will create a joyous feeling for the audience as they are relieved that both of the lions are safe and victorious.
David giving the lion a name: Red, helps to create a bond between the animal and the audience as they feel as if the know him on a more personal note.
This documentary follows Todorov's theory as the lion starts off with an equilibrium, which is disrupted by the hyenas, however this problem is resolved and the lion soon goes back to a happy equilibrium. This documentary is very educational as it informs us about nature and how animals in the wild live and survive. It also gives us the chance to escape from our everyday lives taking us somewhere magnificent and magical, on top of this it gives us personal identification as well as social interaction (due to the wide number of views in which his documentary gained) and of course entertainment.
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